Structure of the lived experience of adolescent females' sexual health.

Purpose. This study examined the nature of the lived experience of adolescent females' sexual health. Further intentions were to reveal the meanings of those lived experiences and to articulate a structured definition and conceptual model from the essential meanings. Data sources. Thirteen adolescent females aged 15--18 years provided their perceptions of sexual health in a dialogical engagement. Data were collected and analyzed using a phenomenological-hermeneutic method of inquiry. Conclusions. The data revealed thirteen individual extracted, synthesized and integrated propositions. The integrated proposition for each of the participants was further synthesized and abstracted to reveal three core constructs: struggling in pursuit of intimate relationships, dissonance with the dominant cultural conventions of sexuality, and engaging-disengaging in safer sex. These constructs formed these adolescent females' structured definition of sexual health as: while struggling in the pursuit of intimate relationships, there is a dissonance with the dominant cultural conventions of sexuality amid engaging-disengaging in safer sex. These constructs were further conceptually integrated and synthesized with theoretical concepts as: connecting-separating, powering, and valuing. A conceptual model was proposed based on these theoretical concepts. Intimate relationships for these adolescent females impact their sexual health values and choices. For the nurse practitioner to enhance adolescent females' sexual health discussions must occur within the context of relationship not just the individual. Findings suggest that NPs can enhance the sexual health of adolescent females by having a true presence through attending to adolescents' perceived sexual health concerns. Implications for practice. Adolescent females' meanings in this study pushes the NP to move away from the notion of NPs as the experts, guiding our clients on what is best for their healthcare. The NP's guided by the adolescent, ask questions based on what is important to the adolescent This co-participation in sexual health care of adolescent females means no longer assuming linear relationships and asking acausal, non-linear questions. A NP that practices with true presence values the adolescent female's priorities as unique and provides the information they request.Ph.D.Health and Environmental SciencesNursingUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/124793/2/3163802.pd