RELATIONSHIPS AMONG CAUSAL ATTRIBUTION, PERCEIVED CONTROL AND ADJUSTMENT IN PATIENTS WITH LUNG CANCER.
Contributors: Indiana University School of Nursing.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 189
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Clinical.
Description: The number two cause of death in the United States is cancer. The death rate from cancer of the lung has continued to rise steadily, much more than cancer death from other sites. Adjustment is a principal concern of nurses in helping patients deal with the impact of lung cancer on their lives. The present study investigated the relationships among causal attributions, perceived control and adjustment in patients with lung cancer. Subjects were 61 out-patients (41 males, 20 females) from two large metropolitan hospitals and six private physicians. All were diagnosed as having primary lung cancer and were either in active treatment or remission. Structured interviews and a self-report questionnaire provided data to measure: (a) internal/external causal attributions for cancer, (b) perceived cognitive control, and (c) adjustment.

The expected positive relationship between internal causal attribution and perceived cognitive control was supported (r =.44, p $<$.000). An unexpected positive correlation was found between external causal attribution and perceived cognitive control (r =.24, p $<$.033). A predicted relationship between perceived cognitive control and adjustment was not supported. Both internal and external causal attribution were significantly negatively correlated (p $<$.05) with aspects of adjustment. Females were found to be better adjusted (p $<$.05) than males, although cell size was unequal. The longer lung cancer patients lived with their illness, the less likely they were to attribute causation (p $<$.05) to external forces. Patients living with their illness the shortest length of time perceived more control (p $<$.01).

The results suggest that patients who make either more internal or more external causal attributions may be at risk for psychological distress and problems with family members. Collecting assessment information from patients regarding their perceptions of causes of their lung cancer may help identify patients at risk for adjustment problems.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-09, Section: B, page: 3672.

Thesis (D.N.S.)--INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING, 1987.

School code: 0815.