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Examining Relationships Among Nursing Students' Views Of Suffering, Positive Thinking, And Professional Quality Of Life, Ruth Anne Engbers

Dissertations (1934 -)

Despite the association between nursing students’ exposure to suffering and the development of compassion fatigue, little research exists regarding promoting nursing students’ adaptation to caring for suffering patients and families. As a possible nursing shortage is projected, it is imperative to better understand the factors that impact this adaptation to ensure that nursing students can successfully transition into their nursing role. Although beliefs about the reasons for human suffering affect their ability to cope with their exposure to the suffering of others, there is no empirical data regarding nursing students’ views of suffering. Nursing students also report using positive reframing …

Theoretical Substruction Of Resilience Theory: Dementia Caregivers' Burden And Their Care Recipients' Behavior, Abir K. Bekhet

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Theoretical substruction is vital in clarifying models and guiding research. In this article, the process of theoretical substruction was examined through resilience theory to provide an example of the congruence between theoretical and operational definitions in nursing research. The author examines the significance of resilience theory in the context of dementia caregivers’ burden and their care recipients’ behavioral problems. The steps of theoretical substruction are included, and a model of resilience is presented that includes middle-range concepts, relational statements, and propositions derived from the research literature. The rigorous process of theoretical substruction provides an example of a theoretically sound basis …

Psychometric Properties Of The Positive Thinking Skills Scale Among College Students, Denise M. Matel-Anderson, Abir K. Bekhet

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Suicide continues to be in the top leading causes of death among college students. Positive thinking has been linked to increasing health outcomes and decreasing the effects of stress. The psychometric properties of the 8-item Positive Thinking Skills Scale (PTSS) has not been tested in American college students. The study used resilience as the theoretical framework. In 131 students, internal consistency and construct validity was supported. The Cronbach's alpha of 0.86 and significant correlation with measures of suicide resilience, perceived social support, and self-esteem demonstrated good reliability and validity. The findings of the study provide directions for future suicide prevention …

The Mediating Effects Of Positive Thinking And Social Support On Suicide Resilience Among Undergraduate Students, Denise Marie Matel-Anderson

Dissertations (1934 -)

Suicide has been the 2nd leading cause of death for 18-24-year-olds in the US since 2011. The stress experienced by undergraduate college students has the potential to increase ones’ risk for suicide. Resilience theory was used as a theoretical framework to examine the interplay between risk and protective factors. A cross-sectional and correlational design was used to assess the mediating effects of positive thinking and/or social support on suicide resilience in 131 college students 18-24 years old who completed an online survey. An indirect effect of self-esteem on suicide resilience was found through positive thinking and social support indicating that …

Risk And Protective Factors In The Lives Of Caregivers Of Persons With Autism: Caregivers’ Perspectives, Abir K. Bekhet, Denise M. Matel-Anderson

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

PURPOSE

The purpose of this descriptive exploratory study is to understand the experience of being a caregiver of a person with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the light of the resilience theory.

METHODS

Qualitative data were collected as a part of a larger quantitative study. Ninety-three caregivers completed this qualitative study and responded to the two open-ended questions. In the parent study, subjects were recruited by convenience sampling from the Interactive ASD Network (IAN).

FINDINGS

The identified categories appeared to reflect three distinct categories consistent with the resilience theory, labeled as follows: risk factors, protective factors, and overlapping factors.

PRACTICE …

Indicators Of Resilience In Family Members Of Adults With Serious Mental Illness, Jaclene A. Zauszniewski, Abir K. Bekhet, M. Jane Suresky

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Factors Affecting Disruption In Families Of Adults With Mental Illness, M. Jane Suresky, Jaclene Zauszniewski, Abir K. Bekhet

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

PURPOSE: This study examined relationships between vulnerability/risk and protective factors, and family functioning in women family members of adults with serious mental illness.

DESIGN AND METHODS: Using a descriptive, correlational design, this secondary analysis examined characteristics of the family member with mental illness (e.g., diagnosis, level of care) and measures of caregiver stigma and strain, client dependence, family disruption, sense of coherence, and resourcefulness.

FINDINGS: Family disruption was greatest inwomenwho provided direct care and whose family member had major depression, followed by bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and panic disorder. Sense of coherence and resourcefulness were associated with lower family disruption, but …

Resilience In Family Members Of Persons With Serious Mental Illness, Jaclene Zauszniewski, Abir K. Bekhet, M. Jane Suresky

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This integrative review summarizes current research on resilience in adult family members who have a relative with a diagnosed mental disorder that is considered serious. Within the context of resilience theory, studies identifying risk/vulnerability and positive/protective factors in family members are summarized, and studies examining seven indicators of resilience, including acceptance, hardiness, hope, mastery, self-efficacy, sense of coherence, and resourcefulness, are described. Implications for clinical practice and recommendations for future research are presented.