Transitional objects: a review of the literature

Dealing with stress: patterns of self-comfort among healthcare students

Stress among healthcare students is a growing problem. As self-comfort is assumed to be a way of coping with stressful emotions, the aim of this study was to describe the patterns of self-comforting actions that healthcare students usually use in distress. One hundred and sixty-eight healthcare students volunteered to write down accounts of what they do when they comfort themselves. Their accounts were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The findings reveal two themes: Ingressing and Transcending. Ingressing comprises the sub-themes Unloading, Distracting, Nurturing oneself, Withdrawing and Reassuring. Transcending comprises the sub-themes Opening up and Finding new perspectives. These findings are in line with some stress-reducing strategies described in the literature on stress management. Winnicott's theory about the phenomenon of transition is used to interpret the findings. In the light of Winnicott's theory, self-comforting measures can be comprehended as the ability to transfer early childhood experiences of being nurtured and comforted into well-adapted strategies to effect relaxation and gain strength.

That place where we live: the discovery of self through the creative play experience

TOPIC

The origin and meaning of play in relation to D.W. Winnicott's (1971) conceptualization of the intermediate area of experience and transitional object, and transitional phenomena formation.

PURPOSE

To demonstrate how the nurse therapist can enhance the child's discovery of self and healthy development through creativity and play.

SOURCES

Clinical experiences with children in a school-based mental health program and literature support.

CONCLUSIONS

By providing "good enough" mothering and a holding environment to enhance the development of a creative play experience, the nurse allows the child to find meaning through self-expression and, ultimately, health.