2016-2017 Faculty Research Grant
Krista Cooper & Curt VanderWaal (Social Work)
Identity and Experience: The Lives of Women Living with Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids
The purpose of this study is to explore changes in personal identity in women living with uterine leiomyomas, also known as uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are benign tumorous growths in that develop in the uterine cavity or surrounding areas (ICD-10, 2016). This common health issue presents serious and complex challenges for women during their reproductive years (National Women’s Healthcare Network, 2015). While some research has explored the impact on quality of life for women with symptomatic fibroids, less research has focused on personal identity of women living with symptomatic fibroids (Mauskopf, Flynn, Thieda, Spaulding & Duchane, 2005; Brito, et al., 2014; Nicholls, Glover, Pistrang, 2004).
This study will utilize a qualitative phenomenological approach (Moustakas, 1994) to capture the experiences and changes in personal identity of women living with symptomatic fibroids. This approach seeks to identify women who are living with fibroids and attempts to identify patterns or thematic elements within their stories. Shifts in personal identity may occur in areas of personal productivity, employment, sexuality, parenting, spouse/partner relationships, and feminine identity. Participants will be interviewed in a 3-interview sequence (Seidman, 2013) that will capture experiences pre-diagnosis, diagnosis and post-intervention. Data will be collected via the use of audio recorder. Interviews will be transcribed and reviewed to identify codes. Codes will be consolidated with QDA Miner software and emergent themes will be identified.
Understanding the impact fibroids have on women’s identity can provide invaluable information for social workers, psychologists, medical professionals and researchers that may lead to improved therapeutic interventions and support networks for this under-served population.