Upplevelsen av socialt stöd för stödgruppsanslutna kvinnor diagnostiserade med endometrios : stödjande aktörer och deras handlingar

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease that affects every 10th child-bearing woman. The main symptom is pain, other symptoms are infertility and extreme fatigue. Living with endometriosis affects all parts of a woman's life, such as social relationships. People living with chronic pain are a vulnerable group in society. These vulnerable people can be forced into unwanted loneliness that they themselves cannot escape from but social support can be a preventive factor that promotes human quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine what social support means for women diagnosed with endometriosis. A qualitative design was chosen with Internet interviews as a method in which the informants were asked to answer in letterform via e-mail. 13 women diagnosed with endometriosis were included in the study and they were between 19 and 46 years. In the analysis of the collected material an inductive thematic analysis was used. The supporting actors identified in the study were partners, family, friends, colleagues, health care contacts and other people who have been in similar situation. Examples of supporting actions which these provide were experienced as emotional, cognitive, concrete & practical support. The results showed that the major support comes from family and partners, but the main support comes from health care when informants have a chronic illness which often involves severe pain that requires treatment and medication, and without support from healthcare they would not be able to manage their disease. These results are consistent with previous research on chronic pelvic pain and social support.