COPING AND INTERACTION PATTERNS WITHIN FAMILIES OF ADULTS WITH THE CHRONIC DISEASE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.
Contributors: University of Nebraska--Lincoln.
Published: 1986
Number of pages: 158
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to identify, through intensive case study, explanatory patterns that express modes of adapting and family interaction within families of adults with the chronic disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Four adults with RA were selected to represent each of the four functional categories of RA outlined by the American Rheumatism Association. The adults with RA and all family members living in the same households constituted the sample. Three families were Caucasian, one Black. One adult with RA was male.

Each family member was interviewed separately and as a member of a family group to obtain demographic data and determine the effects of living with someone with RA as well as to ask about family interactions and ways of coping with stress. Each member recorded daily hassles and ways of coping from the Ways of Coping (Revised) Checklist devised by Lazarus and Folkman (1984). Each family was observed on two different occasions to detect communication and interaction patterns.

The degree of functional ability of the individual with RA was the factor that determined the presence and types of effects on family members for these sample families. There were no or slight effects reported in Families One and Two while there were a number of effects in both Families Three and Four. Both marriages had dissolved and both women attributed this to their inability to fulfill role expectations. Both reported that they were unable to adequately parent their young children. Children became "parentified" to the extent that they needed to prepare meals, keep house, and care for other children. The child in Family Three didn't perceive this as a problem.

Ways of coping for all individuals included more-emotion focused than problem-focused means. The most frequently reported way of coping for adults was "I prayed" and for adolescents/children, it was "Slept more than usual.".

The tools (resources) reported as needed for successful coping were any treatments or devices that would allow the afflicted individual to maintain role function. Failure in role function was associated with ineffective coping. The family of origin served as an important source of coping strength for all subjects by providing both material and emotional support.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-09, Section: B, page: 3705.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA - LINCOLN, 1986.

School code: 0138.