Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 1999. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-148). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ39211.

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 1997. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-103). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL:http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ27356.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 193 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 166-175).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 129 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-108).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 174-198). Also available on the Internet.

Introduction Rheumatic disease is an autoimmune disorder with an unpredictable course of exacerbation and remission. There is no known cure for the disease at the moment. The patients’ conditions may progressively deteriorate despite intensive therapies, and runs an erratic course with the possibility of disfiguration and alteration in body image. Pain, disabilities and psychological distress are common. Rheumatic patients may respond differently to the same level of pain and physical symptoms. The understanding of the needs of rheumatic patients and how they successfully manage the disease and optimize psychological adjustment can help develop effective psychosocial interventions. Aims The aims of the study are (1) to identify the needs of rheumatic patients and perceptions of their disease, (2) to develop a conceptual framework for psychological adjustment, and (3) to identify factors associated with resilience in rheumatic patients. Methods The present study consisted of two phases. The first phase was a focus group interview, aiming to understand the patients’ feelings and to design a questionnaire. The second phase was a prospective questionnaire survey that includes a baseline study and a six-month follow-up study. Patients were recruited from support groups in Hong Kong. The baseline questionnaire was self-administrated, and the follow-up questionnaire was administrated by telephone interview. The self-regulation model was chosen as the basis for the conceptual framework for psychological adjustment. The questionnaire included demographics, illness representation, coping efforts, appraisal of coping efforts, sense of coherence, quality of care, functional disability, and health-related quality of life. The outcome measures were functional and psychological health, change in adjustment, and positive and negative resilience. Results Having a good and caring doctor, more information on the disease, and public understanding of the disease were the needs of rheumatic patients. The patients perceived that the disease was chronic, cyclical, and had poor consequences. They perceived that the disease caused great pain, stress, depression and anxiety, and affected their daily activities, appearance, and relationship with family and friends. Poor adjustment was associated with chronic and cyclical timeline, and poor perception of personal and treatment control. The analysis of resilience shows that positive perception of treatment control and disease consequence, correct understanding of disease causes, and high sense of own value and importance to the society, were protective. While those who lacked family support and blamed themselves or their families to be the cause of disease, were vulnerable. Discussion and conclusions The present study lends support to the validity of self-regulation model in psychological adjustment to disease, but coping efforts could only partially mediate the relationship of illness representation to appraisal of coping efforts, implying that the coping style might not sufficiently capture the underlying differences in individual coping styles. An effective psychosocial intervention can be developed based on the factors associated with better adjustment and resilience, and targeted at non-working older patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Last but not least, support from the community, and public understanding of the disease are important for rheumatic patients. / published_or_final_version / Psychiatry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Not available / text

No description available.

No description available.

The literature indicates that: (i) locus of control is a multi-factorial construct; and (ii) psychological maladjustment is associated with a generalised perception that reinforcements are not personally controlled. Little is known regarding the importance of the identified factors to psychopathology. The relationship between locus of control and adjustment is empirically well established but void of theoretical basis. The present study proposes a bridge between locus of control and Seligman's theory of learned helplessness . Forty hospitalised psychiatric patients (diagnosed schizophrenic) and forty persons chosen randomly from a voter's roll ("normals") were administered tests of locus of control; namely, the Internal-External scale (Rotter, 1966). The Internal,Powerful Others and Chance Scale (Levenson, 1972) and the Interpersonal Trust Scale (Rotter, 1967). The Psychotic Reaction Profile (Lorr, O'Connor and Stafford, 1960), a behavioural questionnaire, was completed for each patient. The results suggest that a multidimensional analysis does not add substantially to an understanding of the relationship between locus of control and psychological adjustment. It is however arguable that the study casts doubt on the utility of existing measures rather than the dimensions as such. Support was provided for the hypothesis linking locus of control to behavioural symptoms of learned helplessness. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1980.