Table 6.
Work | Recreation | Spouse | Family | Spirituality | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Relative to the collective | “Work, helping others, looking after the family, the house, this is important. I volunteer, I do this because I want to do something to keep my mind and body active” (Assyrian SWS 8.1) |
“I know that being with others helps me [pause] it keeps me going [pause] and I learn and share with others” (Vietnamese, SRS 3.5)
“I feel the support of my community. We share, we help each other. My troubles seem less when I am with people” (Assyrian, SRS 4.9) “I don’t like to go out. I don’t want to see people [pause]. I think things have affected me so, I don’t feel comfortable with this in my life” (Arabic, SRS 27.0) |
“My husband, he is next to me. We support each other [pause]. If there is caring between husband and wife, that is what matters” (Assyrian, SSpS 4.5 cm) |
“This is hard because my children and I are not close [pause]. They don’t listen to me anymore [pause]. I think maybe because of the pain. I am now weak/ [seen as weak by them]”. (Vietnamese, SFS 15.1)
“You know the pain it changes you. It changes how you feel with others and how I can talk and do things with my family. It is not the same. They do not want to be around that” (Arabic, SFS 20.4) |
“I am Assyrian [pause]. We Assyrians, you know, spirituality, religion, God [pause], it is like the breath we breathe [pause], it is within us” (Assyrian, SSS 2.4)
“This is me [pause], it is part of me [pause]. I am Mandaean and for us, this is more than just pray, it is who we are” (Arabic, SSS 0.1) |
Meaning & sense of worth |
“Should be my life [pause] to keep the house and cook the meal and be proud of this, but no matter how I try the pain it pierces me, and I collapse [pause] I am trying” (Vietnamese, SWS 18.5)
“It is part of my life, who I am and was raised to be. Even when I cannot, the will is strong” (Assyrian, SWS 2.5) |
“In our community we are close [pause], we help each other, try to do this [pause], to be with people. Think it helps” (Assyrian, SRS 10.7) |
“They are your heart [pause]. My children make me strong [pause], are special to me” (Vietnamese, SFS 0.7)
“My family are my purpose, my life.” (Assyrian, SFS 6.4) “My children are my life. My breath and the reason I am here today. They are why I want to change my life” (Arabic, SFS 3.1) |
“I think this helps keep me centred. It guides how you can view life and what happens” (Arabic, SSS 5.9)
“I am Buddhist [pause], this is so calm for me. It helps me to focus about what is important [pause] find meaning in life and this I find for me” (Vietnamese, SSS 1.3) “I try to believe. I want to give myself to this, but I am lost. I find this too hard on me now” (Arabic, SSS 13) “I don’t believe [pause]. The things that have happened to me [pause]. I can’t anymore” (Arabic, SSS 25.2) |
|
Role expectations |
“work is important to me [pause] I should be able to provide for my family [pause]. This is who I am [pause], but the pain [pause], it limits me” (Assyrian, SWS 5.4)
“My work is to my family and my husband [pause]. I care for them [pause]. This is who I am [pause]. I like things to be a certain way, and I try to maintain that, it is who I am” (Assyrian, SWS 6.3) “I would love to put it on top of me [pause]. Because it is important you know [pause], it should be. I am a proud man. But this is too hard [pause]. So, it is a long way [pause]. This is the truth of the situation” (Arabic, SWS 27.0) |
“My husband he is a good man. He has been by my side through it all [pause], even when I thought I was going to die [pause], he is my strength.” (Arabic, SSpS 4.7)
“Our relationship is difficult. I am not who I should be for her. I think sometimes she would be better off without me. but we are not close like before [pause], how can we be, when I am like this” (Arabic, SSpS 12.2) |
“My family look after me. Even the grandchildren see I am in pain and walk with me”
(Vietnamese SFS 4.6 cm)" “This is my daughter. My daughter is very important to me. She lives with me and helps me a lot [pause], she is a good girl” (Assyrian, SFS 8.0) |
“my belief is that God is the answer to everything. I turn to him when I am stressed or upset or in pain and believe that with his help, I will be cured” (Assyrian, 8.3 cm) | |
Physicality |
“It is impossible to work as I want. I cannot lift a finger without the pain piercing right through me” (Assyrian SWS 22.9)
"I used to carry heavy machinery, and this is how my pain started. Even my hands are hurting, I cannot carry 1 k of anything with my hands, even when I pour myself tea from the teapot, even that is painful (SWS 22.4) “I try to do what I can do. But I am not strong like before. It stops me a lot” (Assyrian, SWS 22.9) |
“I can’t do things I used to. Believe me I was a sport person before this. I could run and play soccer and be social, but now I can hardly even walk” (Arabic, SRS 13.8 cm)
“My pain stops me from sitting or walking or being with people for long periods. I find this hard” (Assyrian, SRS 18.2 cm) |
“I have a new baby you know. He is 4 months old. I can hardly hold him, but he is my blood. my family are my heart” (Arabic, SFS 4.0 cm) |
“This is important … however the pain interferes with my ability to attend church. I am Catholic, and I cannot pray properly, because of my knees. This makes it hard”
(Vietnamese, SSS 11.8 cm) |
SWS Self-Work-Separation, SRS Self-Recreation-Separation, SSS Self-Spirituality-Separation, SSpS Self-Spouse-Separation, SFS Self-Family-Separation