GRIEF AS A BASIC CONDITIONING FACTOR AFFECTING THE SELF-CARE AGENCY AND SELF-CARE OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF PERSONS WITH NEUROTRAUMA (TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY).
Contributors: Wayne State University.
Published: 1996
Number of pages: 465
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Rehabilitation and Therapy.
Description: The purpose of this study was to test a hypothesis from a mid-range theory, Grief as a Basic Conditioning Factor in Family Caregivers of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), derived from Orem's (1995) theoretical framework. Testing involved (a) examining the effects of grief on the TBI caregivers' self-care agency and on the self-care outcomes of health and well-being and (b) comparing levels of grief in TBI caregivers to levels of grief in family caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). The study used a descriptive correlational design with a non-equivalent comparison group and a qualitative element.

Seventy-six TBI family caregivers and 53 SCI family caregivers contacted by telephone or mail completed mailed questionnaires. A brief interview assessed disability levels in their injured family members. A subsample of TBI caregivers were interviewed in person.

Results indicated that Past and Present Grief were not significantly correlated with self-care agency measured with the Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale or the Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale (ESCA) but were significantly correlated with health, mental health, and well-being and two subscales of the ESCA (self-concept and passivity). Multiple regression analyses revealed that cognitive and motor disability of persons with TBI were significant predictors of Past Grief. Motor disability and gender were significant predictors of Present Grief. No significant variance in self-care agency was explained by grief. Past Grief and ESCA were significant predictors of health. Present Grief was the significant predictor of mental health. Past and Present Grief, cognitive disability of persons with TBI, ace, gender, and ESCA were significant predictors of well-being. Non-whites and males had lower well-being. TBI and SCI caregivers had high Past and Present Grief and were not significantly different. No evidence was found to support grief as a basic conditioning factor affecting self-care agency.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-12, Section: B, page: 7447.

Thesis (PH.D.)--WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY, 1996.

School code: 0254.