PERCEIVED BODY SPACE AND SELF-ESTEEM IN ADULT MALES WITH AND WITHOUT CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN.
Contributors: New York University.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 153
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Pain is a protective alarm mechanism. Theoretical and empirical evidence suggest that both perceived body space and self-esteem serve a protective function in individuals. During the chronic pain experience, with all the concomitant losses, there is a deterioration of perceived body space and self-esteem.

Chronic pain was operationally defined as medically diagnosed low back pain lasting six months or longer as assessed by the modified McGill-Melzack Personal Data Questionnaire. Pain group referred to adult males with chronic low back pain; non-pain group referred to adult males who were free of any chronic painful disorder. Both groups met all study delimitations.

Theories of pain, perceived body space, and self-esteem provided the basis for two hypotheses: (1) adult males experiencing chronic pain will demonstrate larger perceived body space than adult males who do not experience chronic pain; (2) adult males experiencing chronic pain will demonstrate lower self-esteem than adult males who do not experience chronic pain.

To test the hypotheses, a purposive sample of 85 adult males between 35 and 45 years of age was used: 42 experienced chronic low back pain and 43 were hypertensive. Data collection took place over a 12-month period. All participants were tested individually in outpatient settings.

Perceived body space was measured by the Fawcett topographic instrument. Self-esteem was determined by Battle's Culture-Free Self-Esteem Inventory Form-AD. The means and standard deviations were computed for measurements and scores for each group. The hypotheses were analyzed using the t-test with the significance level at .05. Neither hypothesis one or two was statistically supported.

Literature on pain suggested that depression might be an intervening variable. Therefore, data regarding depression were collected by means of the Zung Depression Inventory. Since social status was also implicated in the self-esteem literature, information required for the Hollingshead Four-Factor Index of Social Status was collected. Analysis of covariance was computed to determine the effect of depression and social status on the hypotheses. The findings did not support either hypothesis. Reasons for nonsupport were explored.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-03, Section: B, page: 0704.

Thesis (PH.D.)--NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, 1987.

School code: 0146.