Family process stressors, family system resources, parental coping patterns, and parental adaptation were assessed for 58 mothers who had a child with cancer who was being seen at selected pediatric hematology-oncology centers in two Southeastern states. The respondents completed a self-report questionnaire containing the Coping and Health Inventory for Parents, five subscales from the Family Environment Scale, and items asking demographic questions. The dependent measure was the Parental Adaptation Assessment, a modified version of the Spinetta Family Adjustment Scale, developed for this study to measure parents’ perception of their adaptation to the experience of caring for a child with cancer. The criteria for subject inclusion in the study were: (a) two parents living in the home; and, (b) the child’s cancer diagnosis was to have occurred not less than 3 months and not more than 4 years prior to data collection. The Double ABCX Model of Family Adaptation was used as the basis for variable selection. Frequency distributions, correlations between the 11 independent variables and mother’s adaptation, and a stepwise regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Two family process stressors (conflict and control) and two family system resources (cohesion and expressiveness) were significantly (p < .05) correlated with mother’s adaptation. The regression analyses showed that two variables (cohesion and mother’s age) explained 34% of the variance in mother’s adaptation. Results show family cohesion and mother’s age to be the only significant predictors of her perceived adaptation. Family process stressors and parental coping patterns failed to account for any significant variance in mother’s adaptation. Implications for family stress theory, psychosocial oncology research, and family therapy practice are discussed. Recommendations for further research are suggested. / Ph. D.

Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Psigonefrologie behels die studie von psigologiese faktore wat 'n rot speel by eindstadiumnierversaking. Nierversaking word beskou as 'n lewensbedreigende siekte, wat die lewensverwogting von die pasient verkort indien hy nie behandeling ontvang nie. Nierversaking kan ingedeet word in drie stadiums: Die pre-dialise, diatise, en oorplantingstadiums. Die onderskeibaorheid von hierdie stadiums is die gevotg von verski lie in mediese behandelingsmetodes. Nie een hiervon bring genesing nie, maar vertig simptome van die uremiese sindroom, verleng die tewensverwagting von die pasient, en is veronderstel om sy lewenskwaliteit te verbeter. DepresS,ie en angs, is algemene simptome wat by nierpasiente voorkom. Die redes hiervoor, is die pasient se psigologiese reaksie teenoor nierversaking, dialise, en/of 'n oorplanting. Verder moet hy ook die newe-effekte van die mediese behandeling trotseer. Aanpassings moet ook gemaak word in terme von beroep~ en sosiate funksionering. Nie net het eindstodiumnierversaking 'n psigososiate impok op die nierposient nie, maar word die gesonde moat ook daardeur be"invtoed. Daarom ervoar meeste egpore gesamentlik die impok von nierversaking op hulle huwelik- en gesinslewe. Vir optimale oanpassing by nierversaking moet egpore sekere oanpassingstoke bemeester, soos om nierversoking as 'n gedeetde probteem te hanteer, oan te pas by die rot von pasient en versorger. die verskillende behoeftes oan nobyheid en afstand tussen pasient en versorger, en die verwisseting in beroepsrolle hanteer, asook effektiewe kommunikasie met mekoar en die mediese span doarstel, en mekaor deurlopend instrumenteel en emosioneel ondersteun ten einde die huweliksverbintenis in stand te hou. Die resultate von hierdie ondersoek dui doarop dat huweliksverondertikes, soos 'n afnome in ontsponningsaktiwiteite en seksuatiteit, en gelykmakende rolle 'n belangrike rot speel om oanpassing by nierversaking te vergemaklik. Daarmee soam is gevind dat godsdiens 'n belangrike oanpossende funksie vir egpore het. Deurgoans speel'n ondersteuningsisteem, wat uit famitie en vriende, onder nierpasiente, die mediese span en 'n sielkundige bestoan 'n vernome rol om die egpoar met oanpassing te help. Uiteindelik blyk dit moonttik te wees vir egpare om hulle huwetiksverhouding in stand te hou, of setfs konstruktief te herstruktureer, asook groter huwelikstevredenheid te ervoar, ondanks die bedreiging von eindstadiumnierversaking. Meeste egpore ervoar die moeilike tydperk dan ook met 'n verdieping in hulle huwelik- en geloofslewe. / Psychonephrology is the study of psychological factors which are evident in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). ESRD is regarded as a life-threatening disease, which shortens the life-expectancy of a patient if he does not receive treatment. ESRD can be divided into three stages: the pre-dialysis, dialysis and transplant stages. These stages are signified by differences in medical treatment methods. None of these leads to a cure but all alle.viate symptoms of the uremic syndrome, increase the life-expectancy of the patient and are supposed to improve his quality of life. Depression and anxiety are general symptoms found in end-stage renal patients. The reasons for this are the patient's psychological reaction to renal disease, dialysis and/or transplant. Patients must also endure the side effects of medical treatment. Adjustment in vocational and social functioning is also evident. ESRD not only has a psycho social impact on the patient but also affects the healthy spouse. This is why most married couples together experience the impact of ESRD in their marital and family life. For optimal adjustment to ESRD couples need to master certain adaptational tasks, such as treating ESRD as a shared problem, adopt the roles of patient and caregiver, manage the various needs of closeness and distance between patient and caregiver and change of career roles, as well as effectively communicating with each other and the medical team, and instrumentally and emotionally support eac~ other in order to maintain the marital bonds. The results of this investigation show that marital variables, such as a decrease in recreation and sexuality and role equality, are important to ease the adjustment to ESRD. It was also found that religion has an important adaptational function for the married couples. A support system of family, friends, other renal patients, the medical team and a psychologist are also important to aid the couples' adjustment. Lastly it should be possible for renal couples to maintain, or even to positively reconstruct their marital relationship, and to experience marital satisfaction in the face of the threat of ESRD. Apparently most couples experience this ordeal as a time of intensification of their married and spiritual life. / Psychology / D.Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / Family resilience is an increasingly visible concept in the field of family psychology. The aim of the present study was to identify family resilience qualities associated with the successful adaptation of families with a husband diagnosed with prostate cancer. The Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation (McCubbin & Thompson, 1991) served as the theoretical framework in the design and the execution of the research. Both qualitative and quantitative measures were used in this cross-sectional survey research design. Twenty-one husbands and their spouses independently completed seven questionnaires, a biographical questionnaire and answered an open-ended question. Qualitative findings revealed the importance of intrafamilial support, spiritual/religious beliefs and professional support and knowledge in families coping with prostate cancer. Quantitative results indicated that family adaptation to prostate cancer was fostered by family hardiness (the family's internal strengths and durability), affirmative communication and social support.

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / For the purpose of this reserach journey I sought to document the experiences of one family living with HIV/AIDS. I became particularly interested in learning how they coped with sadness, grief and loss and what it was that contributed to hope in their lives. I undertook to find an answer to the research curiosity: How does a family living with HIV/AIDS experience and cope with bereavement and loss and how would a researcher's life-story be changed during this research? ...

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Philosophy

This work of creative nonfiction is meant to explore the effects of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder in American war veterans and their families. As a work of blended literary journalism and memoir, the author interviewed afflicted veterans from World War II to the current Iraq and Afghanistan wars, included scholarly research, and reflected on how her father's dealings with the disorder have affected her family. / by Hillary Boles. / Thesis (M.F.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.