A hermeneutic phenomenological understanding of men's healing from childhood maltreatment.
PURPOSE
To describe and interpret men's experience of healing from childhood maltreatment.


DESIGN
Hermeneutic phenomenological.


METHOD
In-depth interviews. Community-based purposive, maximum variation sampling approach. Recruitment occurred through posting flyers and advertisements. Verbatim data were analyzed and themes of the meaning of healing were identified.


FINDINGS
The meaning of healing was interpreted as "moving beyond suffering." Five themes were identified to capture the multidimensional nature of the phenomenon: (a) breaking through the masculine veneer, (b) finding meaning, (c) choosing to live well, (d) caring for the self using holistic healing methods, and (e) engaging in humanizing relationships.


CONCLUSIONS
Men who survived childhood maltreatment have needs to heal holistically mind, body, and spirit. Meeting their needs requires the provision of highly compassionate humanistic healing environments and healing-promotive nursing care.
['Willis|Danny G|DG|', 'Rhodes|Alison M|AM|', 'Dionne-Odom|James N|JN|', 'Lee|Kayoung|K|', 'Terreri|Pamela|P|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse D002649:Child Abuse D003695:Delivery of Health Care D004645:Empathy D015438:Health Behavior D066297:Hermeneutics D006694:Holistic Health D018939:Holistic Nursing D006801:Humans D007398:Interpersonal Relations D008297:Male D057228:Masculinity D008571:Men D054526:Men's Health D008875:Middle Aged D036301:Qualitative Research D012648:Self Care D055815:Young Adult
healing adults health promotion other (multiple modalities)