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Thesis
Life stress, social problem solving and asthma
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2010
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-3304
Abstract
Asthma is an immuno-inflammatory condition of the respiratory system. Clinical wisdom and previous scientific research suggest that life stress negatively impacts asthma. However, the nature of the stress-asthma relationship remains largely unclear. One hypothesis is that stress plays a multifaceted role, affecting asthma through the nervous and immune systems, and through behavioral pathways, such as disease selfmanagement. Social problem-solving ability has been shown to play an important role in mediating the connections between stress and other chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The coping abilities of individuals with asthma may also play a role as mediators of the stress-asthma relationship. The presented research is the first to examine the life stress and social problem-solving abilities of asthma patients in relation to their asthma control and asthma-related quality of life. The hypothesis that negative stressful life events would be associated with poor asthma control and asthmarelated quality of life was not supported. Likewise, tests of the hypothesis that social problem-solving would mediate the stress-asthma relationship could not be conducted due to lack of statistical power. However, a statistically significant correlation was found between social problem-solving and asthma control and asthma-related quality of life. Problem-solving styles and asthma-related quality of life exhibited the strongest correlation. These results suggest that the social problem-solving framework is a potentially important factor in asthma morbidity and may be potentially fruitful avenues for improving patient's capacity for successful asthma self-management.
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Details
- Title
- Life stress, social problem solving and asthma
- Creators
- Sean P. McCormick - DU
- Contributors
- Christine M. Nezu (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 3304; 991014632273904721