Self-Care and the Qualitative Researcher: When Collecting Data Can Break Your Heart

Conducting qualitative research on topics that are emotionally laden can have a powerful impact on the researcher. Recent literature addresses the essential nature of the emotional connection that must be part of the qualitative research process. However, for the most part, it neglects the issue of self-care strategies for the researcher that are appropriate under these circumstances. Based on the author’s experience in researching the self-directed learning of breast cancer patients and on the limited literature that is available, this article addresses these important topics and calls for increased awareness of these issues and their significance in the preparation of novice researchers.