The purpose of this study was to examine if degree (on a continuum from negative to positive) and/or similarity of patients' and their partners' meanings of the lung cancer illness significantly influenced psychosocial adjustment in a low-income, urban sample of couples (n = 35). Findings were consistent with those of other studies. A significant actor effect (p = .00) was found for both patients and partners, with individuals viewing the illness more positively reporting better adjustment. However, no significant partner effect was found. In addition, the degree of similarity between patients' and partners' meanings was not significantly related to the psychosocial adjustment of either. Findings suggest thatlung cancer patients and their partner s who hold a highly negative view of the illness may be appropriate targets for intervention. However, it does not seem necessary that patients and partners are congruent in their meanings attached to the illness. Additional research on the relationship between meaning and psychosocial adjustment to the lung cancer illness is warranted. Implications for the development and delivery of psychosocial interventions in an oncology setting are discussed. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2007. / October 19, 2007. / Meaning Adjustment, Lung Cancer, Patients, Partners, Couples / Includes bibliographical references. / Lenore McWey, Professor Directing Dissertation; Charles Figley, Outside Committee Member; Robert E. Lee, III, Committee Member; Thomas Cornille, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_181484 |
| Contributors | Lehan, Tara J. (Tara Jeanne) (authoraut), McWey, Lenore (professor directing dissertation), Figley, Charles (outside committee member), Lee, Robert E. (committee member), Cornille, Thomas (committee member), Department of Family and Child Sciences (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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