A CONCEPT ANALYSIS OF ALCOHOLIC DENIAL AND CULTURAL ACCOUNTS

Accounts are statements offered by individuals when explaining questio nable behavior. Cultures vary in the kinds of accounts they honor, and individuals who deny a problem with alcohol may be attempting to main tain congruence between self and culture. Within this context, health care professionals who challenge a patient's denial may be causing unn ecessary harm. The author presents a concept analysis of alcoholic den ial in relation to the concept of accounts to explicate cultural varia tions in the manifestation of denial. The author integrates findings o f her own and others' research to advance an understanding of alcoholi c denial and cultural accounts.