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Introduction
There is an abundance of reported research findings about personal space, and almost all of the studies reported in the literature have used children and young adults as the subjects, neglecting those over age 65. Those in gerontological nursing have been provided with very little empirical information about the personal space boundaries of elderly persons.
Nurses need this kind of information because, as Burnside1 contends, inaccurate determination of a patient/client's personal space boundary (moving in too close or not close enough) can result in failure of the nursing process with that client. For example, in interviewing, the failure to determine accurately the client's personal space boundary may result in not obtaining needed information. This lack of pertinent information may make a situation critical. Roberts2 pointed out another reason for identifying correctly an individual's personal space boundary. Most nursing procedures represent a direct intrusion into the personal space of the patient. Intrusion into any patient's personal space may result in angry behavior, refusal oí procedures, or silence. Such intrusion may also weaken the patient's defenses. All of these responses are detrimental to any patient/client, but especially to the elderly, who usually have fewer reserves to counter weakened defenses.
This study reported in this article was designed to assess the personal space boundary of elderly persons living without assistance in retirement apartments. The purpose was to identify a base line for personal space of independently functioning elders. The influencing factors studied were the angles from which male and female elderly persons approach and are approached by a stimulus-individual. This was accomplished by comparing the differences in the distance of the personal space boundary at multiple predetermined angles/points when an elderly subject was approached by a stimulus-individual identified as a registered nurse and when the elderly subject approached the same stimulus-individual from these predetermined angles/points.
Definitions of Terms
For the purposes of this study, major terms were defined and used as follows:
Personal Space is an area external to an individual, characterized by boundaries that are not clearly demarcated; this area is not necessarily spherical. It extends in all dimensions around the individual; it expands and contracts under the influence of a wide range of variables, but remains relatively constant for a given person. It is a...