Individuals' experiences of illness identity from the perspective of empowerment through illness

Illness identity is defined as "the degree to which an illness is integrated into a person's identity". Illness identity has four dimensions: "engulfment, rejection, acceptance and enrichment". Individuals who exhibit the dimension of engulfment and rejection have low levels of treatment compliance and social cohesion. Individuals reflecting the dimensions of acceptance and enrichment see their illnesses as a part of their identities and focus on the power they gain through their illnesses. Individuals in these dimensions show compliance with the treatment, their stress levels decrease and their illness progresses positively. This situation is considered as strengthening with the disease. The main purpose of this research is to analyse the processes of illness identity, especially to understand the transition of individuals from the stages of engulfment and rejection to the stages of acceptance and enrichment, and to create a model that will enable this transition. Qualitative research method and phenomenological design were used in the study. Purposive sampling, criterion sampling and snowball sampling techniques were used to determine the sample. 6 cancer, 2 Type 1 diabetes, 2 visually impaired, 2 MS, 2 skin diseases, 1 heart disease, 1 panic attack, 1 SMA Type 2, 1 dialysis, 1 lupus, 1 MD patients participated in the study. A semi-structured interview form was used in the study. Within the scope of data analysis, descriptive analysis and thematic analysis methods and Maxqda 2020 programme was used. As a result of the research, it was determined that empowerment with illness starts with the formation of illness identity, the effort to exist in life, the search for the meaning of life and the desire to overcome illness. It was observed that the characteristics of the patient, normalisation of the disease, ensuring the disease-role balance and conscious awareness of the disease facilitated empowerment, while negative attitudes of the patient and society towards the disease, medical and external negativities limited empowerment through the disease. It was determined that the determinants of empowerment with the disease are the loss of the priority of the disease, having a positive approach towards treatment, being a role model and making various gains with the disease. Keywords: empowerment through illness, chronic illness, illness, identity, qualitative research