Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, deteriorative disease, which leads to psychological distress. &lsquo / Conservation of Resources theory (COR)&rsquo / is a relatively recent stress model, developed by Hobfoll (1988, 1989). This resource-oriented theory is based on the assumption that psychological stress is a reaction to a threat of loss of resources, loss of resources and/or lack of resource gain after investment in resources. Religiousness, coping abilities, coping self-efficacy and social support are very important personal resources, which have been found to protect individuals against psychological distress. The aim of the present study was to examine the predictive values of socio-demographic and illness related variables, religiousness, perceived social support, ways of coping, resource loss and arthritis self efficacy for both psychological distress (anxiety and depression) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) of RA patient. In addition, the COR theory was tested for a chronic debilitating illness. Data were collected by administering eight scales to one hundred and seventeen RA patients in the Rheumatology and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of Ankara Numune Hospital. As a result of the regression analysis, it was found that being female, fatigue, resource loss, helplessness coping and perceived social support were significant predictors of anxiety. Impact of illness on daily activities, resource loss, problem solving coping and arthritis self-efficacy were significant predictors of depression. Gender, perceived severity of the illness, perceived social support and problem solving coping were significant predictors of PTG. Perceived social support was not related to depression and total psychological distress whereas it was related to anxiety and PTG. Religiousness was not related to psychological distress and PTG. The results of the study were discussed within the relevant literature, shortcomings of the current study, clinical implications and suggestions for future research were proposed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:METU/oai:etd.lib.metu.edu.tr:http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/2/12607179/index.pdf |
| Date | 01 May 2006 |
| Creators | Dirik, Gulay |
| Contributors | Karanci, Ayse Nuray |
| Publisher | METU |
| Source Sets | Middle East Technical Univ. |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Ph.D. Thesis |
| Format | text/pdf |
| Rights | To liberate the content for METU campus |
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