STRESSORS, COPING STRATEGIES AND LIFE SATISFACTION OF ELDERLY WOMEN WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS.
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1989
Number of pages: 182
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, General.; Gerontology.
Description: The purpose of this study was to identify the illness-related stressors and emotions of elderly women with osteoarthritis and the coping strategies they used to manage these situations, as well as to investigate the relationships among illness-related stressors and emotions, coping strategies, socio-economic status and life satisfaction. The theoretical framework for the investigation was based on a process theory of stress and coping developed by Richard S. Lazarus.

A volunteer, convenience sample of 90 elderly women who were diagnosed as having osteoarthritis participated in the study. In an interview participants completed a demographic profile, reported on the stresses associated with osteoarthritis using the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale, an Emotion Scale, developed by Folkman and Lazarus, and the Jalowiec Coping Scale. Participants then completed the Life Satisfaction Index Z Scale and a Cantril Ladder Scale. In addition, participants were asked to identify any stressors or coping strategies which may not have been included in the research instruments.

Data analysis consisted of frequencies, means, standard deviations, and range of scores, correlation analysis, multiple regression based path analysis and content analysis of narrative reports. Results of the analysis showed that the stress of osteoarthritis involved physical, social, and psychological aspects of life and evokes both positive and negative feelings. The subjects used a broad range of coping strategies, both problem and emotion focused. The strategy was related to the appraised emotions associated with osteoarthritis and had a direct effect on life satisfaction. Significant relationships were found between total stress scores and the emotions of harm and challenge and between the specific stress of decreased mobility and confrontive coping.

Further research is recommended to explore the relationship between stress and coping using specific categories of coping and including emotions in any explorations of causal relationships. A longitudinal study with data collected over several time frames is recommended to examine the transactional nature of the stress and coping process. Comparative studies guided by the Lazarus (1980) stress and coping theory are suggested using samples of different chronic health problems and samples of different ages with the same chronic health problem.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-04, Section: B, page: 1742.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1989.

School code: 0227.