THE MEANING OF INCONTINENCE - A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF NONGERIATRIC URINARY-INCONTINENCE SUFFERERS

The meaning of the problem for incontinence sufferers is known to be a very significant influence on coping. The present study was based on in-depth qualitative interviews with 28 young or middle-aged women who suffered urinary incontinence. Analysis, aimed at discovering the mea ning of their condition for the sufferers themselves, led to the follo wing conclusions. Incontinence is taboo, meaning not only that it is a socially unacceptable topic of conversation (inhibiting the approach of sufferers to health professionals), but also that it is difficult f or sufferers themselves to focus on and think about clearly. Sufferers can react with apathy, or may perpetually teeter on the edge of takin g ameliorative action: rational ways of tackling the problem are often not followed. The problem is seen as one of personal control: inconti nence is lack of a grip on bodily propriety. Sufferers may feel horrib ly unique, and also worry that the incontinence is their own fault. Th ey fear a guilty association with despised groups. It is noteworthy th at the maintenance of 'normality'- allowing the sufferer to claim that there is no problem and that she is not incontinent - may involve a g reat deal of work. Although there are indications of defensive denial in sufferers' reactions to the problem, an additional interpretation i s that they are fighting to subordinate the problem in favour of other priorities. Implications for practice of each of these features of th e meaning of incontinence are drawn out.