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Dissertation
What mediates quality of life for the severely and persistently mentally ill?
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
Dec 2000
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00009120
Abstract
Investigated were the factors that mediate quality of life in severe mental illness. Two models explaining the relationship between independent living skill, mood disturbance, psychotic symptoms and quality of life were tested. The first posits that protective factors such as treatment compliance and skill level will be reduced when mood disturbance increases, leading to an increase in psychotic symptoms and reduced quality of life. Another interpretation of the literature on severe mental illness and quality of life is that those clients with increased protective factors i.e. independent living skills and treatment compliance, have reduced mood disturbance, have reduced psychotic symptoms and improved quality of life. These models were compared with a null model indicating skill level, treatment compliance, mood disturbance and psychotic symptoms predict but do not mediate quality of life. Data was collected from a population of previously homeless severely mentally ill clients receiving supportive housing services. Structural equation modeling was used to test the described models. The partial path depicted by the hypothesized interpretations of the stress vulnerability model, that mood disturbance and treatment compliance impact psychotic symptoms and quality of life, was found to be significant. Support was also found for the hypothesis that skill level mediates the effect of mood disturbance on psychotic symptoms. However, none of the models were found to be a good fit for the data. The impact of missing data and measurement of the constructs is discussed.
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Details
- Title
- What mediates quality of life for the severely and persistently mentally ill?
- Creators
- Cara Rose Hartfield
- Awarding Institution
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- v, 66 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Clinical and Health Psychology [Historical]; Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002); College of Nursing and Health Professions (2000-2002)
- Other Identifier
- 991021888862704721