Research in nursing & health
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A survey of 156 female undergraduate nursing students was conducted to determine the relationship between life change events and dysmenorrhea and the mediating effect of social supports on this relationship. Data were collected using the Anderson College Schedule of Recent Experience (subjects estimated personal readjustment to life changes), the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, and a social support index constructed by the authors. Correlations were obtained separately for high and low social support groups; these ranged from .19 to .62 and were significant (p less than .05) for both groups. ⋯ For subjects using oral contraceptives there was no relationship between life change and dysmenorrhea, while users of other contraceptives showed a significant positive relationship (p less than .05). Life change and social supports together accounted for only 16% of the variance in menstrual distress scores. Methodological difficulties in using the life change and social support tools were identified.
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Comparative Study
Sudden infant death syndrome: parents' perceptions and responses to the loss of their infant.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the number one killer of infants under one year of age. Families are left in a state of crisis after a baby dies of SIDS. Thus, crisis counseling has been offered routinely to SIDS parents in King County, Washington. ⋯ The 48% return rate produced a sample of 54 parents, 37 mothers and 17 fathers, who had lost their infant to SIDS. Statistically significant differences were found between mothers and fathers, as well as between single and married parents, in their view of the SIDS event, their problem solving approaches, and support systems. The results provide useful information for nurses in counseling SIDS parents and in working with families during and after subsequent pregnancies.