PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT, BASIC NEEDS SATISFACTION, AND COPING STRATEGIES OF THE CHRONICALLY ILL.
Contributors: University of Michigan.
Published: 1989
Number of pages: 199
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study investigated relationships among perceived social support, basic needs satisfaction, and coping strategies of chronically ill people. The study's hypotheses were derived from theoretical linkages among object attachment, basic needs satisfaction, and adaptive potential in modeling and role-modeling nursing theory.

The study used a cross-sectional design to collect data from 90 women who were receiving chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. A questionnaire which incorporated the Social Support Questionnaire, Basic Needs Satisfaction Inventory, and Coping Strategies Scale was used to measure the three major variables of the study. Demographic and medical data was also collected.

Hypotheses which predicted positive relationships between perceived social support and coping strategies and between basic needs satisfaction and coping strategies were partially supported by the findings of the study. Significant global relationships existed between perceived social support and coping strategies as a function of support from the closest person and between basic needs satisfaction and coping strategies as a function of self-actualization needs satisfaction. The hypothesis which predicted a positive relationship between perceived social support and basic needs satisfaction was supported. The causal model which proposed that perceived social support would exert a direct and indirect effect upon coping strategies was supported.

Overall, the findings of the study provided support for modeling and role-modeling's theoretical linkages among object attachment, basic needs satisfaction, and adaptive potential. Additional research is needed to determine the generalizibility of these findings. Research is also needed to determine if the relationships among perceived social support, basic needs satisfaction, and coping strategies remain consistent over time.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-09, Section: B, page: 3921.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, 1989.

School code: 0127.