Crying that heals: concept evaluation.
Although much has been written about the healing power of tears, the research into this phenomenon has been fragmented, uncoordinated, and inconclusive. Nonetheless, a substantial amount of the literature across multiple disciplines has addressed the subject, both directly and indirectly. In this article, the authors submit crying that heals (CTH) as a concept of possible significance to health care and evaluate CTH using the criteria for concept evaluation proposed by Morse, Mitcham, Hupcey, and Tasón (1996). Using these criteria, CTH is tentatively defined, and its characteristics, boundaries, preconditions, and outcomes are proposed and examined in the context of this definition. Suggestions for additional analysis and research are offered, and the potential importance of CTH to health care professions, especially nursing, is discussed.
Department of Nursing, Bethel University, 325 Cherry venue, McKenzie, TN 38201, USA. griffithmb@bethelu.edu
Mary Bess
MB
Griffith
Joanne M
JM
Hall
Becky
B
Fields
D003210:Concept Formation; D003448:Crying / Q000523:psychology*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008602:Mental Healing; D016294:Models, Nursing; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000451:nursing*