A snapshot of the lives of women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a photovoice investigation

Sophie Williams*, David Sheffield, Rebecca C. Knibb

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome affects 6  percent of women. Symptoms include hirsutism, acne, and infertility. This research explores the impact of polycystic ovary syndrome on women's lives using photovoice. Nine participants photographed objects related to their quality of life and made diary entries explaining each photograph. Three themes emerged from thematic analysis of the diaries: control (of symptoms and polycystic ovary syndrome controlling their lives), perception (of self, others, and their situation), and support (from relationships, health care systems, and education). These findings illuminate positive aspects of living with polycystic ovary syndrome and the role pets and social networking sites play in providing support for women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1170-1182
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Health Psychology
Volume21
Issue number6
Early online date9 Sept 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2016

Keywords

  • chronic illness
  • optimism
  • photovoice
  • polycystic ovary syndrome
  • qualitative methods
  • women’s health
  • well-being

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A snapshot of the lives of women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a photovoice investigation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this