Ch. 33 Self Concept (Week 2)

Question 1

Self Concept

Answer 1

An individuals view of self. It is subjective and involves a complex mixture of unconscious and conscious thoughts, attitudes and perceptions
Directly affects self-esteem
How one thinks about themselves directly affects how one feels about themselves

Question 2

How is self concept a lifelong process

Answer 2

Self concept is transmitted from parents to children
- Young children (school age) rate themselves higher than other children suggesting their view of themselves positively inflated
- Adolescence can adversely affect self esteem - search for an enduring sense of self turns into a core developmental task influenced by biological and psychosocial changes
- Adulthood - job satisfaction and overall performance linked to self esteem

Question 3

What are some factors that influence the development of self concept

Answer 3

Erikson’s theory of development explains this
- Each stage builds on the tasks of the previous stage
- Self esteem usually increases in early and middle childhood, adolescence, increases strongly in young adulthood and continues to increase in middle adulthood and peaks between 60-70 years old.
- Self esteem diminishes in old age; sharp drop in very old age

Question 4

Identity

Answer 4

Internal sense of individuality, wholeness and consistency of a person over time

Question 5

Body image

Answer 5

involves attitudes related to physical appearance, structure or function

Question 6

Role performance

Answer 6

the way in which individuals perceive their ability to carry out significant roles (i.e. parent, supervisor, partner)

Question 7

Self esteem

Answer 7

individuals overall feeling of self worth or how individuals value, like and accept themselves and is considered to be one of the critical elements that affect future behaviors

Question 8

What are some factors that influence self concept

Answer 8

1. Identity stressors - particularly vulnerable during adolescence. Identity confusion.
2. Body image stressors - Affect appearance, structure or. function of a body part
3. Role performance stressors - Role conflict (when a person has to simultaneously assume 2 or more roles), ambiguity (unclear role expectation), strain (combines ambiguity and role conflict) and overload (having more roles or responsibilities within a role than are manageable)
4. Self esteem stressors - vary by developmental stage - person’s self worth. Illness, surgery or accidents influence self worth. Chronic illness also influence it.

Question 9

What are some examples of body image stressors, identity, and role performance stressors

Answer 9

Question 10

How does family have an effect on self concept development

Answer 10

Family plays key role
- Children develop sense of self from family caregivers
- Also gain accepted norms from family
- High parental support and parental monitoring are related to greater self-esteem and lower risk behaviors
- Positive communication and social support foster self-esteem and well-being in adolescence

Question 11

How does the nurse have a effect on patient’s self concept

Answer 11

Nurses need to remain aware of their own feelings, ideas, values, expectations, and judgments:
Use a positive and matter of fact approach.
Build a trusting relationship.
Be aware of facial and body expressions.
Preventive measures, early identification, and appropriate treatment minimize the intensity of self-esteem stressors.

Question 12

How do we use critical thinking for self concept

Answer 12

Requires:
A synthesis of knowledge, experience, information gathered from patients and families
Critical thinking attitudes
Intellectual and professional standards
For self-concept, integrate knowledge from nursing and other disciplines.
Self-concept profoundly influences a person’s response to illness.

Question 13

Explain the nursing process steps

Answer 13

1. Assessment - Care should be patient-centered
   Direct questioning
   Observe patient nonverbal behavior
   Use knowledge of developmental stages
   Through the patient’s eyes
   Coping behaviors
   Significant others
2. Nursing Diagnosis - Examples of self-concept–related nursing diagnoses:
   Disturbed Body Image
   Disturbed Personal Identity
   Impaired Role Performance
   Situational Low Self-Esteem
   Often isolated data are defining characteristics for more than one nursing diagnosis.
3. Planning - Synthesize knowledge, experience, critical thinking attitudes, and standards
   Use concept map
   Goals and outcomes
   Setting priorities
   Teamwork and collaboration
4. Implementation - Collaborate with the other team members and patients to promote healthy self-concept
   Health promotion
   Acute care
   Restorative and continuing care
5. Evaluation - Through the patient’s eyes
   Patient’s perceived success in meeting goals and outcomes.
   Patient outcomes - must include the patients response to nursing interventions and perceptions of changes in self concept