published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

This doctoral dissertation, as part of a large and ongoing CIHR-funded study, used a subset of the total sample to evaluate the contribution of interactive health communication (IHC) as a complement to more traditional means of informational support (Care-as-usual) to optimal adjustment of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer (N = 135). According to the study protocol, participants in the experimental group received an IHC educational intervention for an eight-week period. Measures of psychosocial adjustment and information-related variables were administered in interviews at Time 1 (pre-intervention) within 8 weeks of initial diagnosis, and again 8 weeks post-intervention (Time 2). Psychosocial adjustment variables included: depressive symptoms (CESD), anxiety (STAI-Y), well-being (IWB), and quality of life (SF-36)-mental and physical health components. Information-related variables included: the need for information related to cancer, cancer-specialist, and family or friend's informational support, and overall satisfaction with information. Optimism and Constructed meaning were evaluated at Time 1 and 2, respectively. A GLM MANCOVA model tested overall F-ratios and regression coefficients using difference scores. Predictors in the model were: group (experimental versus control), constructed meaning, and optimism. The overall model (df = 8, 121) was significant for Group, F = 3.66, p < .001, effect size eta2 = .20, Constructed Meaning, F = 3.04, p < .004, effect size eta2 = .17, and Optimism, F = 2.95, p < .005, effect size eta2 = .16. Participants in the dissertation experimental group had significant improvements in QOL-physical health and overall satisfaction with information when compared with the control group. Constructed meaning was significantly associated with beneficial changes in all of the adjustment-related variables. The results of this dissertation clarify the potentially significant roles IHC and constructed meaning pl

The present study sought to investigate whether some of the personality characteristics observed among cancer patients in the American and International literature are outcomes of cancer, or whether they, in themselves, constitute factors that may be contributing to cancer development.Twenty-five pre-biopsy subjects who were later diagnosed as having benign tumors (Benign Unaware) and twenty pre-biopsy subjects who were later diagnosed as having malignant tumors (Cancer Unaware) were administered the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) and the Fundamental Interpersonal Relationships Orientation-Behavior (FIRO-B). A third group of subjects with already diagnosed malignant tumors who had been informed of their condition (Cancer Aware) were also administered the same instruments.A multivariate analysis of variance revealed that subjects comprising the Cancer Unaware group scored significantly lower (p.4.001) on the Neuroticism Scale of the EPI than both the Benign Unaware and Cancer Aware groups.The subjects comprising the Cancer Aware group scored significantly lower (P4-05) than both the Benign Unaware and the Cancer Unaware groups on the Control Expressed Scale of the FIRO-B.The observed differences obtained by both instruments did not appear to be affected by either the sex or the age of the subjects.On the basis of these data, conclusions were drawn and speculations were made concerning the utilization of psychological interventions in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Anticipatory grief has been described as a grief reaction which occurs prior to an expected loss. If cancer is perceived as a threat to life, relatives of patients diagnosed with cancer may experience anticipatory grief upon learning of the patient's diagnosis. Health professionals must have a greater awareness of the manifestations of this syndrome if they are to provide comprehensive care to these patients and their families. This study was designed to determine if a diagnosis of cancer does precipitate the manifestations of anticipatory grief first described by E. Lindemann in members of the patient's family. These manifestations include heightened preoccupation with the patient, depression, a review of the possible forms of death which may befall the patient and anticipation of the modes of readjustment that would be necessitated by his death. Using a semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions, the investigator interviewed twenty family members of fourteen patients. The sample included spouses, children and parents of the patients. All of the interviews were recorded on audiotapes which were used for content analysis of the data. Of the twenty subjects, seven described all four manifestations, six mentioned three, three mentioned two, three mentioned one, and one subject did not mention any of the manifestations. Heightened preoccupation was described by seventeen subjects, depression by sixteen, reviewing forms of death by thirteen and anticipation of modes of readjustment by nine. Other common reactions expressed were fear of the disease and it consequences, hope inspired by knowledge gained from the clinic' specialists, and a feeling of ambivalence toward the disease and its treatment. Family differences were emphasized by the subjects' expressions of concern about the reactions of other members of the family. The results of this study indicate that Lindemann's theory can be used as a framework for assessing the anticipatory grief reactions of this population and suggest that it may also be applicable in a wider range of life-threatening situations. The fact that anticipatory grief was not experienced universally by this group was contrary to statements made in the literature that anticipatory grief is inevitable following a diagnosis of cancer and suggests that the attitude toward this disease may be changing. Further study is needed to determine if knowledge level or perception of the disease are significantly related to the experience of anticipatory grief in the early stages of the disease and if there are other factors which may be influential. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate