تحلیل محتوای روایت‌های انگیزشی بیماران قلبی برای ترک رفتارهای ناسالم

Abstract

This study aimed to identify and analyze the motivational components embedded in the personal narratives of cardiac patients regarding the abandonment of unhealthy behaviors. This qualitative study utilized a conventional content analysis approach. Fourteen cardiac patients from Tehran who had attempted to quit or successfully abandoned unhealthy behaviors (e.g., smoking, poor diet, inactivity) were selected via purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and continued until theoretical saturation was reached. NVivo software was used for open coding and thematic extraction. Three main categories emerged from the analysis: internal motivational factors (e.g., existential threat, health-centered self-awareness, cognitive transformation), external motivational factors (e.g., family role, medical team warnings, experiences of others), and sustaining factors (e.g., self-monitoring strategies, meaning-making, continuous social support). Participant quotations revealed that the motivation to abandon unhealthy behaviors is a multi-layered process influenced by personal experiences, social dynamics, and the reconstruction of life meaning. A deeper understanding of motivational drivers in cardiac patients can significantly inform the design of effective psychological interventions and rehabilitation programs. Therapeutic approaches should integrate individual, social, and spiritual dimensions to support long-term behavior change.