Theory Of Self-Transcendence

Semantic Clarity and Consistency. Theoretical sources for the development of the theory of self-transcendence are described clearly in several publications (Reed, 1991, 1996, 1997, 2003). The definitions and assumptions about the concepts of the theory were derived from lifespan developmental theory and Rogers’ Science of unitary human beings. Attempting to clarify concepts such as health and self-transcendence, Reed presented slightly varying definitions and numerous examples that are theoretically consistent.
Structural clarity and consistency. The relationships in the schematic model of the theory of self-transcendence are more fully defined and described in Reed’s past and forthcoming writings (Reed, 2013). The congruency between the assumptions,

The theory is used geographically and institutionally. This theory has been used within the geographical areas from which it emanated. The theory of self-transcendence was formulated in a gerontological research community and is specifically linked to nursing. For instance, Reed's theory is used at the University of Arizona and tested by Reed's students and colleagues. Reed (1991) developed a theoretical framework of aging and mental health. This mid-range theory of self-transcendence combines knowledge derived from lifespan developmental psychology with Rogers’ (Qnillan & Runk, 1983; Rogers, 1970, 1990) conceptual nursing model. In a similar vein, many nursing scholars and graduate students from different nursing schools utilized this theory as a theoretical framework for their research and their dissertations. Reed is promoting the implementation of the theory for a wide range of healthy and ill individuals. This theory was first introduced in the first study of Reed (1986) to examine depression and patterns of developmental resources over time among 28 clinically depressive elderly. This theory has been considered and used cross-culturally and transculturally. Recent studies by Reed and others have extended the scope of the theory to include people with different backgrounds. Examples includes Japanese institutionalized older adults (Hoshi & Reed, 2011), Korean family caregivers and

The theory has produced new nursing knowledge that is useful in practice. Thus, the scope and purpose of Reed’s theory are such that it can be applied to a wide variety of human health situations. The purpose of the theory is to enhance nurses’ understanding about well-being (Reed, 2008). Initially, Reed’s work focused on developmental resources in persons confronted by challenges of later adulthood related to indicators of mental health symptomatology, specifically, clinical depression (Reed, 1983, 1986b, 1991). In linking self-transcendence to mental health as an indicator of well-being, the scope of the theory expanded to include persons other than older adults who were facing end-of-own-life issues (Reed, 1991b). Continued development and testing of the theory led to the specification of self-transcendence as a mediator between vulnerability and well-being, and it supported the direct relationship between self-transcendence and well-being (Reed, 2003, 2008). The theory is now broader in scope and more congruent with a lifespan perspective because the major concepts can be applied to anyone confronted with life events ranging from childbirth and caregiving to long-term care contexts, life-threatening illness, and