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Exacerbated vulnerability in existential changes: the essence of dealing with reduced working capacity

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Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore people’s experience of reduced working capacity and their encounters with professionals in that life situation. We collected data through in-depth interviews with eight individuals. The main finding of the current research is how illness and accident impairing work capacity exacerbate vulnerability during the recovery process as people experienced uncertainty, depression, anxiety, social isolation, fear and stress. We conclude that counseling and support from respectful, professional, caring and human professionals is extremely valuable in such a context.

Résumé

Vulnérabilité Exacerbée lors de Changements Existentiels: L’Essentiel pour Gérer une Capacité de Travail Réduite. Le but de cette étude phénoménologique était d’explorer le vécu des individus en situation de capacités de travail réduites ainsi que leur rencontre avec des professionnels. Nous avons collecté des données au travers des entretiens approfondis avec huit personnes. Le résultat principal de la présente recherche est que la maladie et les accidents nuisant à la capacité de travail exacerbent la vulnérabilité durant le processus de rétablissement tandis que les individus expérimentent l’incertitude, la dépression, l’anxiété, l’isolation sociale, la peur et le stress. Nous concluons que le conseil et le soutien de la part de spécialistes respectueux, professionnels, aidant, et humains, sont extrêmement important dans un tel contexte.

Zusammenfassung

Erhöhte Vulnerabilität in existentiellen Veränderungen: Die Essenz des Umgangs mit verminderter Arbeitsfähigkeit. Das Ziel dieser phänomenologischen Studie war, die Erfahrung der reduzierten Arbeitsfähigkeit von Menschen und ihrer Begegnungen mit Fachleuten in dieser Lebenssituation zu erkunden. Wir erhobenen Daten von acht Personen anhand von Tiefeninterviews. Das Hauptergebnis der aktuellen Untersuchung war, wie Krankheit und Unfall die Arbeitsfähigkeit einschränkten und während des Erhohlungsprozesses die Vulnerabilität erhöhte als die Personen Unsicherheit, Depression, Angst, soziale Isolation und Stress erlebten. Wir schlossen daraus, dass die Beratung und Unterstützung von respektvollen, professionellen, fürsorglichen, und menschlichen Fachleuten äußerst wertvoll in einem solchen Kontext ist.

Resumen

Vulnerabilidad Exacerbada en los Cambios Existenciales: Cómo se Afronta la Capacidad de Trabajo Reducida. El objetivo de este estudio fenomenológico era explorar la experiencia de las personas con capacidad de trabajo reducida o incapacidad laboral y sus encuentros con profesionales durante esa situación vital. Se recogieron datos a través de entrevistas en profundidad a ocho sujetos. El principal hallazgo de esta investigación fue cómo la enfermedad y los accidentes que reducen la capacidad laboral del sujeto exacerbaron su vulnerabilidad durante el proceso de recuperación, mientras las personas experimentaban incertidumbre, depresión, ansiedad, aislamiento social, miedo y estrés. Concluimos que la orientación personal (counseling) y el apoyo de profesionales competentes, respetuosos, de trato humano y afectivo, es extremadamente valioso en tal contexto.

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  1. Department of Family Services, Glerárgata 26, 600, Akureyri, Iceland

    Sigrún Hulda Steingrímsdóttir

  2. Faculty of Graduate Studies, School of Health Sciences, University of Akureyri, P.O. Box 224, 602, Akureyri, Iceland

    Sigríður Halldórsdóttir

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Steingrímsdóttir, S.H., Halldórsdóttir, S. Exacerbated vulnerability in existential changes: the essence of dealing with reduced working capacity. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 16, 251–274 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-015-9297-3

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