Internal Dimensions In Nursing

Internal Dimensions
The internal dimensions of a theory act as guidelines to describe it and to enhance understanding of the approaches used to evolve it; they also help to identify gaps in the theory (Meleis, 2018). The first dimension is the rationale on which the theory is built (Meleis, 2018). The components of the theory of self-transcendence are united in a chain-link and are based on certain sets of relationships that are deduced from a small set of basic principles (Reed, 2008). The second dimension to consider is that of the system of relations (Meleis, 2018). In the theory of self-transcendence, the concepts explain relations and the fact that self-transcendence is a mediator of the relationship between vulnerability and well-being

The attention to the need in nursing for theories addresses knowledge of order, knowledge of disorder, and knowledge of control (Meleis, 2018). Self-transcendence theory addresses knowledge of the process, which includes the nursing process and nurse-patient interactions (Reed, 2008). Abstractness, the eighth theory dimension (Meleis, 2018); the theory has a reduction in length and a deduction between its propositions (Reed, 2008). The method of theory development is the ninth internal dimension (Meleis, 2018). Reed used the dialectic method of reasoning in developing her theory (Coward, 2007). The theory was developed by working from various directions: nursing philosophy, and Rogerian thought, lifespan developmental theory, and practice experiences (Reed,

In the first study, Reed (1986) examined patterns of developmental resources and depression over time. Significant inverse correlations of moderate magnitude were found between self-transcendence and both depression and overall mental health symptomatology (Reed, 1986). In the second study, Reed (1989) studied the degree to which key developmental resources in later adulthood were associated with mental health among 30 clinically depressed older adults. An inverse relationship was noted between the level of resources and depression (Reed, 1989). Participants also reported that key reasons given by participants for their psychiatric hospitalization were congruent with self-transcendence issues significant in later adulthood (e.g. physical health concerns, relationships with adult children, questions about life and death) (Reed, 1989). In the third study, Reed explored patterns of self-transcendence and mental health in 55 older adults (Reed, 1991). In this study, self-transcendence was measured through the newly developed Self-Transcendence Scale (STS). The score was correlated inversely with Langner Scale of Mental Health Symptomatology scores (Reed, 1991). In terms of practical aspects, Reed (1991) and Coward and Reed (1996) have proposed nursing