The EMeRGE theory of emerging adult-aged women's sexual and reproductive health self-management: A grounded theory study.
Emma C Schlegel, Rita H Pickler, Judith A Tate and 2 others
PMID 37533185WHAT IT FOUND
Emerging adult women managed sexual and reproductive health through stories, online searches and trusted people, not always providers.
They disclosed selectively when stigma, privacy or distrust made care feel unsafe.
Key findings
01Women described sexual and reproductive health self-management as a set of knowledge, behaviours and beliefs that changed after triggering events.
02Physical symptoms were frequent triggering events that led women to reflect, research and seek advice or care.
03Women described sharing only the most relevant or necessary information with healthcare providers, and provider conversations could require active inquiry before disclosure.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Thirteen women from an urban area, mostly connected to university or community college settings, so the theory may not fit rural, older, non-student or people with different socioeconomic backgrounds. Participants were emerging adult women and had not given birth, so the findings may not apply to people who have been pregnant or given birth. The study was conducted during the pandemic and civil unrest, and ten interviews were virtual, which may have affected what participants shared. The interviewer was a nursing PhD student, and participants knew this, which may have shaped the analysis. The study describes experiences and theory building. It did not test whether provider communication or trust building change sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Women were not asked about prior pregnancies, so pregnancy history was not considered.
Declared interests
No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the EMeRGE theory as proof that direct questions or trust building improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes. It describes 13 women's experiences and tested no intervention.