EFFECTS OF SOCIAL SUPPORT, CONSTRAINTS, THREAT APPRAISAL, AND COPING RESPONSES ON COPING EFFECTIVENESS IN A FUNCTIONALLY DISABLED POPULATION: A TEST OF A PROPOSED CAUSAL MODEL.
Contributors: Indiana University School of Nursing.
Published: 1985
Number of pages: 170
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The study was designed to test a causal model of theoretical relationships among the perceived availability of social support, perceived effectiveness of social support, personal constraints, threat appraisal, coping responses and "coping effectiveness" with a wheelchair bound population. Development of a valid model of the interrelationships among the aforementioned variables would assist in the formulation of nursing interventions that may facilitate reintegration of the person with a functional disability into the community.

The proposed causal model based on Lazarus' cognitively oriented theory of psychological stress and coping was tested. Constructs considered included the above-mentioned variables. The model fit the data, with 61% of the variance in "coping effectiveness" being accounted for.

The non-probability sample of 50 included 35 males and 15 females aged 18 to 64. The sample was obtained from responses to questionnaires mailed to 138 functionally disabled, wheelchair bound individuals discharged within 3 years from two rehabilitation facilities.

Path analysis was conducted using the LISREL VI computer program, controlling for the demographic variables, marital status, age, education, and type of disability. The findings indicated (1) perceived availability of social support was significantly positively related to "coping effectiveness" through the mediating variables of problem- and emotion-focused coping; (2) perceived availability of social support was significantly positively related to the use of social support as was perceived effectiveness of social support; (3) perceived personal constraints was not significantly related to any causal model variable; (4) perceived availability of social support was related significantly to reduced threat appraisal; (5) threat mobilized social resources, but did not signficantly influence the mobilization of other coping resources; and (6) the use of social support was not significantly related to "coping effectiveness".

In contrast to the relationship of the demographic parameter marital status to "coping effectiveness" usually found in the literature, marital status significantly predicted both threat and "coping effectiveness", with the non-married subjects coping more effectively and with less threat.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-08, Section: B, page: 2264.

Thesis (D.N.S.)--INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING, 1985.

School code: 0815.