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LIVING THE “FORGETTING EXPERIENCE:” AN EXPLORATORY OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MCI AMONG OLDER DISABLED VETERANS.

Schneider, Christine Marie
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1591122619358772

Abstract Details

2020, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Sociology.
Living the “Forgetting Experience:” An Exploratory Inquiry of the Lived Experience of MCI Among Older Disabled Veterans Abstract by CHRISTINE M. SCHNEIDER Life expectancy has expanded to a point that most of us will experience MCI ourselves, or through a loved one. The idea that MCI reflects the loss of one’s ability to think can be devastating to a person’s self and identity, impacts social support and influences psychological distress. In order to understand how MCI affects individuals, we have to ask the individuals who are directly experiencing memory changes to understand the lived experience of MCI. The domains explored in this study fit in the framework of the stress paradigm (Pearlin et al., 1989) as they consider illness related stressors, social supports, coping and psychological well-being outcomes. Sampling and Methods: This study used a sample of older disabled veterans who have recently been diagnosed with MCI. Once identified, patients were approached in clinic, or by phone to obtain consent for participation in a semi-structured interview. The semi-structured interviews specifically explored the following domains: awareness, impact of diagnosis, social support, and coping with psychological distress. Findings: The lived experience of MCI is a multi-faceted stress and coping process. For each participant, the lived experience had commonalities and variations. All participants experienced lay appraisal that their forgetting was non-normative, yet all described the label of MCI at diagnosis as qualitatively different. The emotional reaction to the diagnosis ranged from validation to devastation. Yet the majority of this sample had accepted their diagnosis, even though they experienced anger, fear and frustration with changes in their memory. Overall, social support was a positive theme for this sample. Yet, initial changes in social support sometimes resulted in frustration with increased informal and formal support. Additionally, the majority of veterans had begun to utilize proactive coping with their memory and diagnosis. Interpretative analysis resulted in an emergent theme of late life masculinity. Some respondents exhibited more traditional masculine ideals that were articulated in their resistance to dependency. Others showed that in later life they might adopt new valued masculine roles. This was seen in the connection to the overall successful coping and perseverance in these veteran’s stories.
Eva Kahana, PhD (Committee Chair)
Tim Black, PhD (Committee Member)
Gary Diemling, PhD (Committee Member)
Denise Kresevic, PhD (Committee Member)
260 p.
Sociology
MCI; Lived Experience; Veterans; Stress and Coping; Masculinity

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Schneider, C. M. (2020). LIVING THE “FORGETTING EXPERIENCE:” AN EXPLORATORY OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MCI AMONG OLDER DISABLED VETERANS. [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1591122619358772

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Schneider, Christine. LIVING THE “FORGETTING EXPERIENCE:” AN EXPLORATORY OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MCI AMONG OLDER DISABLED VETERANS. . 2020. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1591122619358772.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Schneider, Christine. "LIVING THE “FORGETTING EXPERIENCE:” AN EXPLORATORY OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MCI AMONG OLDER DISABLED VETERANS. ." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1591122619358772

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.