The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between parent and child factors for mothers of children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis to predict mother's psychological distress. Mothers were surveyed to identify measurement models in areas of Child and Parental characteristics and a Full Causal Model of Maternal distress. Factors related to Child Characteristics include general parental stressors and cystic fibrosis specific parental stressors. Factors related to Parental Characteristics include the mother's sense of parental competence and self-esteem. Additional factors related to the Full Causal Model include social support, major and minor life events, and demographics. Results were analyzed using LISREL IV structural equation modeling. Measurement model analysis found a good fit for the Child Characteristics model (Chi Square = 6.85, df = 4, JD = .144, Goodness of Fit Indices = .972) and Parental Characteristics model (Chi Square = 5.89, df = 3, p = .117, Goodness of Fit Indices = .971), but not for the full causal model of maternal distress (Chi Square = 114.98, df = 66, E = .000, Goodness of Fit Indices = .853)

published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing in Advanced Practice

No description available.

This small exploratory study considers the use of the narrative approach in eliciting and understanding illness stories. The four participants, (two male and two female) range in age from 29 years to 74 years. They live with a variety of chronic illnesses (heart disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Pick's disease). Narrative analysis of the four semi-structured transcribed interviews revealed four dominant themes: the emotional reaction to diagnosis; the role of stress in aggravating and coping with chronic illness; a view of death; the meaning attributed to illness. / A postmodern perspective is employed to explicate the social construction of the notion of chronic illness. A critique of the medical discourse regarding chronic health challenges is offered. / This study invites social workers to consider their position of power and privilege as they learn new ways of listening to illness narratives.

The purpose of this secondary analysis of Malone's (1993) study was to identify formal and informal resources used by families with an adult son with chronic mental or physical illness. It also explored the identified perceptions of health care providers by the families in this study. This study was guided by the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation (McCubbin & McCubbin, 1993).The sample population was patients who were receiving outpatient care from Valley Mental Health Center and University Hospital Neurology Clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah, and families which met certain criteria. The data of 42 respondents of the original 68 in Malone's (1993) study were perused for trends and themes about the use of formal and informal resources and perceptions of health care professionals using the process of secondary analysis.Findings revealed that the outpatients and families used six formal resources and seven informal resources. Family resources accounted for 44 percent of the total utilization of informal resources by the respondents. Hospital/clinics accounted for 24.3 percent of the total formal resources used by the respondents. Findings also revealed that perceptions of health care professionals by the respondents was negative.With the increase of chronic illnesses, the recommendations and implications for nursing identify that patient education in the future will undoubtedly be the most vital and crucial component to an individual's success/failure to adjust to the chronic illness. With the additional knowledge base, prevention of unnecessary anxiety related to the chronic illness would promote a more positive environment for the patient. In addition, both the patient and family could make that smooth transition into the adaptation phase and function effectively with the chronic mental or physical illness. / School of Nursing

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 340-375).

Thesis (Master of Science (Hons.) Social Ecology) -- University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 1994. / "A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Honours) in Social Ecology in the University of Western Sydney - Hawkesbury" Bibliography : leaves 288-300.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 118-130). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Maryland at College Park, 1996. / Thesis research directed by the Dept. of Counseling and Personnel Services. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1995.