TRAUMATIC EVENTS, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND SELF-EFFICACY: CORRELATES OF HEALTH PERCEPTIONS AMONG ADOLESCENTS.
Contributors: University of South Carolina.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 146
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The relationship between traumatic events and health perceptions among adolescents is poorly understood. While social support and self-efficacy protect adults from the adverse effects of trauma, the nature of this relationship among adolescents is not clear. The Adolescent Trauma Conceptual Model provides a useful framework to examine these complex interrelationships.

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between traumatic events such as violent life events, non-violent life events, a natural disaster, and war, and health perceptions in an adolescent population. Additionally, the protective effects of social support and self-efficacy upon these traumatic events and health perceptions is examined.

This descriptive correlational study is a subcomponent of the Carolina Adolescent Health Project (CAHP), a three-year longitudinal project aimed to study the effects of Hurricane Hugo on the health of South Carolina adolescents. Freshmen and sophomores who could read and write English from three high schools and who took the initial CAHP Survey comprised this study's sample (N = 1427). Measures on the CAHP Survey included the Hurricane Exposure Scale, Violent Life Events Scale, Non-Violent Life Events Scale, Index of Social Support, and Self-Efficacy Scale. Independent variables included traumatic events, demographics, and personal factors, protective variables included social support and self-efficacy, and the dependent variable was the participants' ratings of their health as "poor," "fair," "good," or "excellent." Logistic regression utilizing Categorical Modeling (CATMOD) was performed univariately and with multivariate backwards regression.

Final model results indicate that traumatic events inversely associated with health perceptions included violent life events, non-violent life events, and hurricane exposure. Females and blacks had higher odds of poorer health perceptions. As social support and self-efficacy each decreased, health perceptions decreased.

Findings suggest that traumatic events may be predictive of health perceptions among adolescents. High social support and self-efficacy appear to protect adolescents' health perceptions from the effects of traumatic events. Intervention programs that build on social support and self-efficacy are recommended as most appropriate in enhancing health perceptions among adolescents who have suffered traumatic event stress.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-07, Section: B, page: 3549.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1993.

School code: 0202.