The Complex Experience of Suffering from Stress - An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Authors
Stilling, Michael Teis ; Barrett, Nathali Bülow
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2023
Submitted on
2023-10-16
Pages
63
Abstract
Stress er stigende globalt og påvirker økonomi, fællesskaber og individer. Meget forskning fokuserer på arbejdspladsfaktorer og organisatoriske løsninger, mens færre studier har undersøgt, hvordan mennesker selv oplever stress. Dette studie sætter de levede erfaringer i centrum for at udvide forståelsen og informere praksis. Vi brugte Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) med semistrukturerede en-til-en-interviews med tre deltagere. Efter transskribering identificerede vi deltagerspecifikke temaer (PET’er) og samlede dem til gruppetemaer (GET’er) på tværs af deltagerne. Vi valgte det mest repræsentative gruppetema—fordi det var gennemgående og afspejlede alle deltageres bidrag—til dybdegående analyse. Analysen fremhævede et behov for varieret og kontinuerlig mestring. Deltagerne brugte krop, sind og natur på forskellige måder, men alle måtte tilpasse deres liv under og efter stress. Egen handlekraft—aktivt at søge den rette behandling og vælge mestringsstrategier—var central, især i mødet med et pressende eller utilstrækkeligt system. Rehabiliteringen bød både på støtte og barrierer, og sociale misforståelser af stress havde negative konsekvenser. Overordnet fremstod stress som komplekst med både udfordrende og blandede følger, der kunne fortsætte efter tilbagevenden til arbejde. Resultaterne peger på, at behandling bør anerkende løbende, individuelle mestringsbehov og støtte egen handlekraft, samtidig med at systemprocesser, der kan hæmme bedring, undgås. At lytte til menneskers fortællinger kan nuancere forklaringer på stress og bidrage til at bremse udviklingen.
Stress is rising worldwide and affects economies, communities, and individuals. Much research targets workplace factors and organizational fixes, but less work has explored how people themselves experience stress. This study centers those lived experiences to broaden understanding and inform care. We used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) with semi-structured, one-to-one interviews with three participants. After transcribing, we identified themes for each participant (PETs) and then combined them into group-level themes (GETs) across the sample. We selected the most representative group theme—because it was common and reflected contributions from all participants—for detailed analysis. The analysis underscored a need for varied and continuous coping. Participants drew on the body, mind, and nature in different ways, yet all had to adapt their lives during and after stress. Self-agency—actively seeking suitable treatment and choosing coping strategies—was central, particularly when navigating a pressuring or inadequate system. Rehabilitation involved both supports and obstacles, and social misunderstandings of stress had negative effects. Overall, stress emerged as complex, with challenging and mixed consequences that could persist after returning to work. These findings suggest that treatment should recognize ongoing, individualized coping needs and support self-agency, while being mindful that system-level processes can impede recovery. Listening to people’s stories can enrich explanations of stress and help address its rise.
[This summary has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords
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