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Understanding the experiences of dementia : living with early-stage dementia and loneliness
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Clements, Elishia (2022) Understanding the experiences of dementia : living with early-stage dementia and loneliness. DClinPsych thesis, University of Warwick.
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Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b3879803
Abstract
This thesis contains three chapters. Chapter one details the systematic literature review conducted, appraising qualitative empirical literature that explored experiences of early-stage dementia, within the context of the person living with the diagnosis and their informal family caregivers. Eighteen studies were included, and findings were synthesised using Thomas and Harden’s (2008) thematic synthesis approach. Three themes with associate subthemes emerged from the synthesis: ‘Adjusting and making sense of the diagnosis’, ‘Impact of living with early-stage dementia’ and ‘Coping and needs’. Findings recommended the review of post-diagnostic pathways and consideration of third-wave therapeutic interventions in managing self-criticism and carer burnout and burden. Earlier future care planning conversations may also promote a sense of agency for the person living with dementia.
Chapter two is an empirical qualitative study exploring loneliness in people living with dementia. Grounded theory methodology was used to construct a theoretical model to explain the experience of loneliness and the processes involved in living with loneliness. Participants’ accounts of loneliness reflected a multifaceted and distressing experience underpinned by the mental torment, emotional burden, and embodied sensations. The model captured the processes involved in living with loneliness through purposeful activity, connection, and internal resources that either contributed to or served to alleviate experiences of loneliness. The experience of loneliness affected how people dealt with loneliness, indicating a bidirectional relationship between experiencing and living with loneliness. Clinical and policy implications with future research recommendations are discussed.
Chapter three is a reflective paper outlining the author’s experiences on the process of undertaking a doctoral thesis. This chapter includes the use of the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Hexaflex Model (Hayes et al., 2006) to reflect on the experiences of completing research with people living with dementia whilst balancing the competing academic and clinical demands, illustrated by the author’s own personal hexaflex and analogy.
Item Type: | Thesis (DClinPsych) | ||||
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Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RC Internal medicine |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Dementia, Dementia -- Patients -- Psychology, Dementia -- Patients -- Care, Loneliness, Caregivers | ||||
Official Date: | May 2022 | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Department of Psychology | ||||
Thesis Type: | DClinPsych | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Patterson, Tom ; Marczak, Magdalena ; Pavlou, Claire ; Cook, Julia | ||||
Format of File: | |||||
Extent: | 227 pages : illustrations (colour) | ||||
Language: | eng |
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