The Experiences and Self-Concept ofthe Women who Live as Turner Syndrome

Abstract

【Objective】 Turner Syndrome （TS） is a disorder specific to women which, due to an X chromosomes missing, causes short stature, ovarian failure, etc. The women with TS have cause physical, psychological and social issues with growth, especially, it is considered that TS is immense influence on life plan as a female. However, in the current situation, it is difficult for medical professionals to continuously involve in the treatment. Moreover, it has not enough made a study about support of nursing on TS. In this study, it aims to clarify what the women who live as TS have experienced and how they have coped.

【Methods】 Semi-structured interviews were conducted to six adult women who know that they have TS. The results of this study were restructured as well as analyzed based on life story study.

【Results・Discussion】 Due to consideration for ethical issues, interviews of three women with TS have been interpreted and analyzed in this research. Four common themes were derived from the result: “anxious every day until understanding about the Turner Syndrome”“unstable parentchild relationship”“ denied femininity”“ repeated loneliness”. It was clarified that three women with TS were a difference in process of perceiving as TS due to their experiences in their life stages and development tasks at that time being related in a complex way. Moreover, experiences of each women with TS exerted an immense influence to coping as TS.

【Conclusion】 It consider that the experienced of the women who live as TS will influence on their life plan; the nurse who involved in genetic medical care need to continuously support them along with the development tasks on each life stage.