Caring for Adolescents Based on the Wisdom of Indonesian Pandalungan Culture: An Ethnonursing Pilot Study

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the caring of families with adolescents based on the local wisdom values in Pandalungan families in the Eastern region of Java Island, Indonesia. Design and method: A pilot study with ethnonursing design was performed to identify the domain of inquiry of Pandalungan local wisdom deeply related to how cultural aspects influence families caring for adolescents. The data collection involved 4 months of participants observation in the community and in-depth interviews with the key informants. Then, focus group discussion was performed until data saturation with 92 informants (consisting of key informants, adolescents, and parents). We used Leininger’s four phases of analysis for qualitative data to develop a thematic structure of this study. Results: Fourteen patterns generated four themes through the analysis of all data. The local wisdom of Pandalungan was integrated into spiritual value in their family. The spiritual value was used to structure their family lives. Then, local wisdom was internalized to functionalize their family function to care for adolescents. Family structuring and functionalizing based on local wisdom of Pandalungan were used to achieve family life cycle development with adolescents. Conclusions: The local wisdom values were internalized in the family spirituality, structure, function, and task development in Pandalungan families caring of their adolescents children in Indonesia. Practice implications. A cross-cultural approach with an emphasis on cultural sensitivity issues can be used to identify the family as a whole system regarding the local wisdom of Indonesia.