Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


Oliver-Dissertation-2014.pdf (1.09 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Longitudinal Study of Perceived Stigma, Disclosure, and Optimism in Adolescents and Adults Living with Cystic Fibrosis: Measuring the Impact on Psychological and Physical Health

Oliver, Kendea N
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1416154032

Abstract Details

2014, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-threatening, genetic disease that is typically diagnosed in infancy, affects the respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems, and results in a shortened life expectancy. Medical research over the past several decades has led to significant improvements in treatment of CF, resulting in a substantial increase in life expectancy, but few studies have focused on coping strategies among individuals with CF during adolescence and early adulthood. This study was designed to examine the relationship of psychosocial variables that may influence coping with chronic illness, specifically illness-related stigma and illness disclosure (i.e., disclosing one’s medical diagnosis to others), to quality of life (QoL) and objective health outcomes. Additionally, this study examined the moderating effects of optimism on these relationships. Methods: Seventy-one patients from the CF Clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital participated in a 12-month longitudinal study, with self-report questionnaires completed at three time points: baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Questionnaires assessed demographic information, stigma (Social Impact Scale), illness disclosure (revised Talking About Cystic Fibrosis questionnaire), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), CF-specific QoL (Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire – Revised), and optimism (Life Orientation Test – Revised). Medical/health data were recorded from patient records, including pulmonary function, body mass index, current number of medications, number of comorbid diagnoses, and hospitalizations during the 12 months of the study (number of hospitalizations, number of days hospitalized). Mediation and moderated mediation models were used to examine the hypothesized relationships among variables. Results: Older age was related to worse pulmonary functioning, more distress, lower QoL, higher stigma, and more negative disclosure experiences. Stigma had a significant indirect effect on emotional and physical QoL when mediated by distress. The indirect effect of stigma was not significant for social QoL or hospitalizations. Frequency of negative disclosures had a significant indirect effect on emotional QoL, but not on physical or social QoL. In addition, distress mediated the relationship between negative disclosures and hospitalizations, but only at lower levels of optimism. Conclusions: Several hypothesized models were not supported, which may have been due to a lack of statistical power or may be due to a true null effect. Results provided limited evidence that stigma is negatively associated with QoL and illness disclosure is negatively associated with physical and psychological well-being. Additionally, possible pathways were identified by which stigma and illness disclosure influence physical and psychological health. Low optimism was identified as a potential risk factor in the context of negative disclosure experiences.
Charles Emery, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Jennifer Cheavens, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Julian Thayer, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
132 p.
Psychology
cystic fibrosis; stigma; illness disclosure; quality of life; optimism

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Oliver, K. N. (2014). Longitudinal Study of Perceived Stigma, Disclosure, and Optimism in Adolescents and Adults Living with Cystic Fibrosis: Measuring the Impact on Psychological and Physical Health [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1416154032

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Oliver, Kendea. Longitudinal Study of Perceived Stigma, Disclosure, and Optimism in Adolescents and Adults Living with Cystic Fibrosis: Measuring the Impact on Psychological and Physical Health. 2014. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1416154032.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Oliver, Kendea. "Longitudinal Study of Perceived Stigma, Disclosure, and Optimism in Adolescents and Adults Living with Cystic Fibrosis: Measuring the Impact on Psychological and Physical Health." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1416154032

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1416154032
909
© 2014, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.