Document Type

Dissertation

Lived Experience of Adolescents with Chronic Pain: A Phenomenological Study

Authors

Ryan Christopher Suder, Nova Southeastern University

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Occupational Therapy

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Department

College of Health Care Sciences – Occupational Therapy Department

First Advisor

Cathy Pierce

Date of original Performance / Presentation

2016

Publication Date / Copyright Date

7-3-2016

Publisher

Nova Southeastern University

NSUWorks Citation

Ryan Christopher Suder. 2016. Lived Experience of Adolescents with Chronic Pain: A Phenomenological Study. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Health Care Sciences – Occupational Therapy Department. (53)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_ot_student_dissertations/53.

Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experience of adolescents who live with chronic pain. All 10 participants were between the ages of 13 and 17 and have lived with chronic pain for at least 6 months. Data sources for the study were two interviews for each participant, participant drawn depictions of their chronic pain, and researcher journaling. The person-environment-occupation model was used to frame the research design. The study found four main themes among the data: pain identity, invisible disease, occupational loss, and uphill climb to regain life. Each theme described the essence of the common experience of adolescents living with chronic pain. Occupational therapists can benefit from incorporating this knowledge base into their practice when providing intervention for individuals living with chronic pain to improve their overall quality of life and occupational performance.

Disciplines

Occupational Therapy

Keywords

Health and environmental sciences, Adolescents, Chronic pain, Lived experience, Occupational therapy, Person-environment-occupation model, Phenomenological