THE STRESS-COPING PROCESS IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
Contributors: University of Michigan.
Published: 1989
Number of pages: 284
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Social.
Description: The purpose of this study was to examine the stress-coping process in kidney transplant recipients and their family members. The specific research aims were: (1) to develop instruments to measure the components of the stress-coping process; (2) to examine the psychometric properties of scales constructed from these instruments; (3) to identify differences between kidney recipients and family members on the components of the stress-coping process; and (4) to explore relationships between these components and quality of life, and test a model of the stress-coping process. A sample of 127 kidney transplant recipients, and 112 family members responded to questionnaires with sections on demographics, primary appraisal, secondary appraisal, emotions, coping, and quality of life.

Factor analysis was used to identify subscales for primary appraisal (health, work, family, and dependency); secondary appraisal (control, uncertainty, and meaning); emotions (positive and negative); social support (positive and negative); and coping (maintaining morale, acceptance and minimization, problem-solving, avoidance and concealment, support mobilization, seeking meaning, and positive initiative). Recipients and family members differed on two primary apppraisal subscales (health and dependency); one secondary appraisal subscale (meaning); three coping subscales (problem-solving, avoidance and concealment, and positive initiative); and one quality of life scale (quality of life before transplant). Regression analyses showed a strong relationship between components of the stress-coping model and quality of life. Empirical path models derived by regression were similar to the theoretical stress-coping model originally postulated. Primary appraisal of stress played a more important role in these models than was expected.

The concepts of primary and secondary appraisal need further instrument development and systematic investigation since they appear to be central to the operation of coping. Other chronic health conditions could be studied with similar methodology using longitudinal methods that are process oriented. The findings of the present study emphasize the importance of the psychological context within which the transplant experience occurs, and may be of value to those health professionals who assist individuals in dealing with the transplant experience.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-01, Section: B, page: 0147.

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

School code: 0127.