TY - JOUR PY - 2005// TI - An inquiry into the "agonies" (agonias) of Portuguese immigrants from the Azores JO - Hispanic journal of behavioral sciences A1 - James, Susan A1 - Navara, Geoffrey S. A1 - Clarke, Juanne Nancarrow A1 - Lomotey, Jonathan SP - 547 EP - 564 VL - 27 IS - 4 N2 - Previous research has found that psychiatric symptom expression is inextricably linked with culture and that psychiatric categories do not necessarily reflect the experiences of people from other cultures. Using a multidisciplinary approach, this study explored the Portuguese culture-specific phenomenon agonias (meaning "the agonies"). Fifty (21 males and 29 females) Portuguese immigrants from the Azores were interviewed concerning their immigration experience, family life, health, healing, suffering, and understanding of agonias. Although there was diversity among the participants' responses, a cohesive and systemic understanding of agonias arose from the narratives. A link between the somatic symptoms of agonias and psychological processes, social context, and religious beliefs was demonstrated, and highlighted that psychiatric categories are limited when classifying a multidimensional experience like agonias.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0739-9863 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0739986305281084 ID - ref1 ER -