The purpose of this study was to describe the meanings and structures of the lived experience of inner strength for women.

A phenomenological study was designed and implemented. A purposive sample of nine women was selected from Canada and the United States. The participants were able to acknowledge that they had the experience of inner strength, and they were able to articulate their lived experience of the phenomenon.

Data were generated using an unstructured, in-depth, face-to-face interview with the individual participants. The interviews were audiotaped and then transcribed. The focus for the interview was on the meanings and descriptions put forth by the participants of their lived experiences of inner strength. The researcher's prior knowledge and assumptions about the phenomenon were held in abeyance throughout the phases of data generation and analysis. A phenomenological analysis of the data was conducted that included methods adapted from Colaizzi, van Manen and Spiegelberg. Nine essential themes emerged from the data, and a formulated meaning of the structure of inner strength for women was developed.

The following themes represent the findings from this study: (1) quintessencing--recognizing, becoming, accepting, and being one's real self; (2) centering--balancing and focusing self; (3) quiescencing--availing oneself of quiet and calm; (4) apprehending intrication--seeing and understanding the complexities within situations; (5) introspecting--gaining self-awareness; (6) using humor; (7) interrelating--valuing mutuality, intimacy, and authenticity in relationships; (8) having capacity--experiencing depth and resourcefulness; and (9) embracing vulnerability--appreciating and accepting humanness and limitation as opportunities for growth.

The results of this study have implications for nursing theory, research, and practice. New meanings of the nature of inner strength have been generated by including the female perspective. This study also adds depth and breadth to the cumulative knowledge of women and expands the present base of understanding of the phenomenon of inner strength.