title: Boosting strategies. Enhancing the self-esteem of individuals with catastrophic illnesses and injuries.
abstract: This qualitative study used grounded theory methods to determine how individuals were able to live with catastrophic illnesses and injuries. Twenty-eight participants were interviewed for stories of how they endured their circumstances. Although several strategies were used, this article describes a strategy entitled "boosting," which outlines the affected individuals' efforts to improve their self-esteem, which helped them bear their circumstances. Boosting has some relationship to social comparison theory. Implications for nurses and the importance of awareness of this communication need for patients are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T254-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 2B5. dewar@nursing.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dewar
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002388:Catastrophic Illness / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009013:Morale; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires