Coping Compliance and Adjustment in Adolescents With Cystic Fibrosis
Condition: Cystic Fibrosis
MeSH terms: Cystic Fibrosis; Fibrosis
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      In this research, we will use established surveys to look at the relationship between various
      styles of coping with a disease, religious coping styles, treatment compliance, locus of
      control, broad measures of mental health and adjustment, and basic health data (e.g., PFTs,
      recent hospitalizations or antibiotics within the past year, lung microbiology, CFTR
      mutations, and co-morbid conditions such as diabetes, depression, and liver disease). While
      the research is correlational, it should suggest relationships (both positive and negative)
      between various coping styles and desired outcomes (compliance and well-being).
    

Detailed description: 
      OVERVIEW: We anticipate that the data we collect will help us better understand some of the
      factors associated with improved coping, treatment compliance, and emotional adjustment,
      which, in turn, may suggest possible interventions to improve compliance, emotional
      adjustment, and general physical health. Specific hypotheses include the following:

        1. Subjects who score high on measures of positive coping will have greater levels of
           treatment compliance and psychological well-being.

        2. Subjects who score high on measures of negative coping will have lower levels of
           treatment compliance and psychological well-being.

        3. Subjects who score high on measures of positive religious coping will have greater
           levels of treatment compliance and psychological well being.

        4. Subjects who score high on measures of negative religious coping will have lower levels
           of treatment compliance and psychological well-being.

        5. Subjects who score high on measures of internal locus of control will have higher levels
           of treatment compliance and psychological well-being compared to subjects who score low
           on measures of internal locus of control.

        6. Subjects who score high on measures of treatment compliance will have higher levels of
           physical health.

        7. We do not anticipate a positive correlation between positive coping mechanisms and
           general physical health; however, subjects who score high on measures of negative coping
           may have lower levels of general physical health (e.g., lower PFTs, increased rates and
           lengths of hospitalizations) probably due to third variables (e.g., if someone uses
           denial as a coping mechanism, it may lead to poor treatment compliance, which may lead
           to declines in physical health).

        8. Anecdotal evidence suggests that parental education may be positively correlated with
           treatment compliance, but this has not been evaluated. Likewise, anecdotal evidence
           suggest that marital status may be correlated with treatment compliance (probably
           because of third variables, e.g., if, as much research suggests, divorce is related to
           lower SES and fewer social supports, these factors may in turn interfere with treatment
           compliance). Two questions on the demographic sheet will allow us to explore whether or
           not this may be worth exploring further.
    

Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Cross-Sectional
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Adolescents age 13-19 with CF at a single CF center.
      
Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Adolescents; Coping Compliance; Adjustment