This grounded theory study represents conversations from the private worlds of thirteen elderly and/or disabled economically disadvantaged individuals who live in a government-subsidized high-rise apartment complex in a medically underserved small city community in the eastern United States. The codes that emerged from a semi-structured questionnaire were analyzed and categorized as mirrors of the evolving theory that defined the participants' meanings of health. A capacity for decision-making and will power to refrain from substance abuse coded as life markers and identity parameters, categorized as "existential coordinates." The participants' spirituality has been instrumental to their health. Selective coding identified the concept of empowerment to explain the phenomenon and capture as much of the complexity and movement in the real world of the economically disadvantaged participants that was possible. The final theory, grounded in the data, emerged as follows: In an economically disadvantaged population, health is predicated by and synchronous with empowerment. Individuals are empowered for, as well as by, health. The phenomenon of empowerment was revealed as coming before and existing with their health. Empowerment gives spirit to life and makes hope visible. Relevant findings from this study can impact the design of new programs for the promotion and maintenance of health by reinforcing and maintaining the participants' dimensions of empowerment: will power, autonomy, spirituality for coping and life spirit, and existential coordinates for decision-making.
Learning Objectives: 1) To present a grounded theory study of thirteen elderly and/or disabled economically disadvantaged individuals who live in a government-subsidized high-rise apartment complex in a medically underserved small city community in the eastern United States, and 2) To explore how relevant findings from this study can impact the design of new programs for the promotion and maintenance of health
Keywords: Health, Special Populations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.