Symptoms without disease: Exploring experiences of non-Western immigrant women living with chronic pain

ABSTRACT

The aims of the researchers were to explore the experiences of non-Western immigrant women living with chronic pain in Norway. Nine individual interviews were conducted and analyzed with a phenomenological approach. We found that the women were wavering between different models to explain their pain. Our analysis of the women's stories makes us believe that a complexity of stressful factors in their lives as immigrant women are influencing their experience of pain and that encounters with health care personnel fail to meet their needs. Our findings reflect a need for broader approaches to help immigrant women with chronic pain.

Funding

This study was supported by VID Specialized University.

Author Contributions

Nyen was involved in the study conception and data collection. Nyen and Tveit were involved in the analysis and drafting of manuscript.