Psychosemantic Approach to Assessing Difficult Life Situations (on the pattern of the situation related to the disease that threatens the child’s life)

Abstract

The article deals with the notion of a difficult life situation and its subjective characteristics. Using apsychosemantic approach, the authors have created a methodology — the Life Situations Semantic Differential. With a help of this technique semantic units were identified in the perception of the life situation of close relatives of seriously ill children. The sample included 81 individuals (adults aged 20 to 60 years). Semantic units were grouped around such parameters of situation perception as 1) the level of stress; 2) assessment of their own psychological resources; 3) the certainty-uncertainty of situation; 4) strength and energy; 5) a sense of resolvability of the situation and 6) involvement and significance. Refs 16. Table 1.