Lynne McCormack

Vicarious Growth in Wives of Vietnam Veterans: A Phenomenological Investigation Into Decades of “Lived” Experience

There is a paucity of research understanding the “lived experience” of psychological growth following vicarious trauma. This idiographic study explores the phenomenological experiences of wives of Vietnam veterans exposed to vicarious combat trauma over decades. Using semistructured interviews, data were collected from wives of Australian veterans and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Two main themes emerged: (a) “Living with the distress of vicarious trauma” and (b) “Vicarious growth.” The first theme describes the distress and struggle to interpret and understand the “what” of vicarious trauma by these women. The second theme highlights “how” they brought meaning to these experiences. Of interest are the domains of humility, love, gratitude, and empathy aspects of posttraumatic growth that are not captured by existing standardized psychometric tools. The importance of the insider’s perspective into the ongoing lived experience of family members exposed to vicarious combat distress over decades is discussed.

Psychological growth in humanitarian aid personnel: reintegrating with family and community following exposure to war and genocide

There is a paucity of research into the subjective experiences of humanitarian aid personnel exposed to modern global conflicts and disasters in the course of their work. In particular, little is known about how they make sense of any dual threat: (1) witnessing catastrophic and traumatic events perpetrated on those they seek to serve and (2) experiencing personal threat to self. This phenomenological study explores the idiographic interpretation of aid personnel working in complex humanitarian settings including exposure to genocide, and the impact of such exposure on reintegration processes postmission. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). One theme: Complex humanitarian distress and growth overarched five subordinate themes. Four of the subordinate themes highlighted long term psychological distress including shame, moral doubt, betrayal, and narcissistic coping. The fifth theme, Reparation with ‘self’, describes a redefining of self-worth and altruistic identity over time despite earlier perceived moral failure and sense of rejection from organization and important others. Reparation with self, as a positive outcome from traumatic distress and lack of validating support from important others, is discussed in light of current posttraumatic growth literature. Implications for therapists and recruiting organizations are also discussed.

Sustaining a Positive Altruistic Identity in Humanitarian Aid Work: A Qualitative Case Study

This case study explores the interpersonal and intrapersonal experiences of a single individual who spent more than 35 years in humanitarian aid work. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, one superordinate theme, altruistic identity (AI), emerges. On return home following a humanitarian mission, AI requires (a) strong perception of empathic validation for intimate reintegration and (b) self-acceptance of personal involvement. However, AI disruption is related to (a) a perception of rejection or weak empathic validation for intimate reintegration and (b) self-blame leading to isolation from intimate others. With AI disruption, validation is alternately sought from humanitarian colleagues and/or by returning to the field. Results suggest that postmission reintegration processes are important determinants of psychological well-being. The authors also discuss the organizations role in addressing the psychosocial care of their staff on return from mission to reduce long-term social disruption and p...

Psychological Growth in Aging Vietnam Veterans: Redefining Shame and Betrayal

This study offers alternative interpretations of war-related distress embedded within the social and political context of the Vietnam War. Subjective interpretations from aging Vietnam veterans were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. A central theme—Moral authenticity: Overcoming the betrayal and shame of war—overarched five subordinate themes. Four subordinate themes encapsulated layers of war-related betrayal associated with shame. Shame was likely to be described as either (a) internal/sense of personal failure, with no acts of rage; or (b) external/reckless or threatening acts of others, engendering rage. A fifth theme, reparation with self, reflected humility, gratitude, and empathy, currently undefined domains of the growth construct.

The dance of communication: Retaining family membership despite severe non-speech dementia

There is minimal research investigating non-speech communication as a result of living with severe dementia. This phenomenological study explores retained awareness expressed through non-speech patterns of communication in a family member living with severe dementia. Further, it describes reciprocal efforts used by all family members to engage in alternative patterns of communication. Family interactions were filmed to observe speech and non-speech relational communication. Participants were four family groups each with a family member living with non-speech communication as a result of severe dementia. Overall there were 16 participants. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. One superordinate theme, Dance of Communication, describes the interactive patterns that were observed during family communication. Two subordinate themes emerged: (a) in-step; characterised by communication that indicated harmony, spontaneity and reciprocity, and; (b) out-of-step; characterised by communication that indicated disharmony, syncopation, and vulnerability. This study highlights that retained awareness can exist at levels previously unrecognised in those living with limited or absent speech as a result of severe dementia. A recommendation for the development of a communication program for caregivers of individuals living with dementia is presented.

Distress and Growth: The Subjective “Lived” Experiences of Being the Child of a Vietnam Veteran

There is a paucity of research into the positive and negative intergenerational psychological effects of war-related trauma, particularly from a child’s perspective. Therefore, this study aimed to shed light on both positive and negative experiences of growing up in a family where one parent is traumatized by war. It explored the subjective “lived” experience of three sisters whose father, a Vietnam War veteran, was diagnosed with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) data from semistructured interviews were analyzed. One overarching theme emerged: making meaning of dual complex trauma. This encapsulated four superordinate themes: betrayal and neglect; like father, like daughter; fragile intimate self; and growthful forgiveness and self-care. Implications for therapeutic intervention with intergenerational trauma are discussed.

Shame, hope, intimacy and growth: dementia distress and growth in families from the perspective of senior aged care professionals

Minimal research explores the impact of dementia and a dementia diagnosis on families from the unique vantage of senior health professionals. The participants of this study, eight senior aged care professionals, provided unique interpretative insights into family dynamics and sense-making on the journey with dementia, and their own role in that journey. Both positive and negative perspectives were sought. Data from semi-structured interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). One superordinate theme, Dementia naiveté; redefined intimacy, overarched Embarrassed shame; Maintaining hope; Redefining a model of intimacy; and Redefined relational intimacy and growth. Within these themes, the participants shed light on hurtful embarrassment and shame experienced by families associated with the diagnostic label given to a loved one. This label was perceived to either trigger separation, hurt and immobility through ignorance, or precipitate a frenzy of naive yet hopeful energy for seeking that elusive cure. The participants saw their role as one of enacting a new way of connecting what was with what could be. Thus, they modelled advocacy, integral care and relational intimacy. Validation came in witnessing a redefining of intimacy in many families who were able to embrace that holistic and empathic approach to the shifting presentation of dementia. Psychological well-being was observed to occur when families embraced growthful domains, e.g. acceptance, hope, relational closeness and altruistic concern for other families. Implications for future care models are discussed.

Civilian Women at War: Psychological Impact Decades After the Vietnam War

Civilian women working in war zones may be vulnerable to posttraumatic stress reactions for decades. Some four decades since the Vietnam war, little is understood of how non-national civilian women have made sense of their experiences both in a war zone and returning to a hostile society and how this has affected their mental well-being over a lifetime. Female entertainers employed by Western allied forces during the Vietnam conflict completed the Posttraumatic Stress Checklist-Military (PCL-M), the Revised Impact of Event Scale (IES-R), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in response to war zone exposure categories of life threat, sexual discrimination and abuse, and personal trauma. The majority of participants were asymptomatic of posttrauma stress according to the PCL-M and IES-R. However, decades later, 9% of participants met diagnostic criteria for PTSD according to the PCL-M, suggesting that civilian women exposed to war zones may be symptomatic for decades.

Synthesis of Meaning Negative and Positive Change in Family Members Following the Adversity of Dementia

A paucity of research explores both negative and positive changes for family members supporting a loved one with dementia, especially when communication by speech and awareness of others diminishes. This qualitative study sought the views of family groups concerning their experiences over the past 10 years supporting a loved one with dementia. A focus group sought negative and positive subjective interpretations of this phenomenon. One superordinate theme: Synthesis of Meaning emerged from the data using interpretative phenomenological analysis. This overarched two subordinate themes: (a) Steps backward—encompassing those times when relatives hovered uncertainly, missed opportunities to engage due to advancing dementia, and felt regret and (b) Steps forward—encompassing moments of unexpected rewards, acceptance, self-forgiveness, and empathic connection with others on a similar journey. This study highlights that although often fraught with distress, positive aspects of the dementia journey are possible and offer opportunity for psychological growth and well-being.

Stigma, the medical model and dementia care: Psychological growth in senior health professionals through moral and professional integrity.

Minimal research explores the impact of a career in dementia care on senior health professionals. This study sought positive and negative subjective interpretations from seven senior health professionals regarding their experiences in dementia care. Data from semi-structured interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). One superordinate theme, Honouring stigmatised self, overarched four sub-themes: Systemic stigma, Invalidated, Self-respect and Moral integrity and Growth. Stigma was interpreted as systemically entrenched minimisation of aged care and the aged-care workforce, including poor remuneration and training. Participants experienced peer invalidation particularly when attempting to resolve complex professional and moral challenges in dementia care. These often occurred in the context of efforts to individualise care, constrained within a medical model. Paradoxically, external invalidation motivated a search for redefining ‘self’ and moral integrity. By wisely acknowledging career experience, growthful domains of self-respect, optimism, humility and innovation defined professional practice and personal choices. Implications are discussed.