British journal of health psychology
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Br J Health Psychol · Sep 2014
Comparative StudyPost-traumatic growth in stroke carers: a comparison of theories.
This study examined variables associated with post-traumatic growth (PTG) in stroke carers and compared predictions of two models of PTG within this population: the model of Schaefer and Moos was compared to that of Tedeschi and Calhoun (1992, Personal coping: Theory, research, and application. Westport, CT: Praeger, 149; 1998, Posttraumatic growth: Positive changes in the aftermath of crisis. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 99; 2004, Psychol. Inq., 15, 1, respectively). ⋯ What is already known on this subject? Literature on caring for stroke survivors focuses on negative outcomes (Ilse, Feys, de Wit, Putman, & de Weerdt, 2008) to the exclusion of positive outcomes such as post-traumatic growth (PTG; Calhoun & Tedeschi, 1999). Studies of a variety of health conditions have demonstrated that PTG occurs in patients and carers after illness events and is associated with well-being (Gangstad, Norman, & Barton, 2006; Helgeson, Reynolds, & Tomich, 2006; Kim, Schulz, & Carver, 2007). Exploratory studies and studies of benefit finding have shown that PTG occurs in stroke carers (Bacon, Milne, Sheikh, & Freeston, 2009; Buschenfeld, Morris, & Lockwood, 2009; Haley et al., 2009; Thompson, 1991), but there are no studies using standard instruments to assess PTG in this population. Moreover, current theories posit different explanations for PTG (Schaefer & Moos, 1992, 1998; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004), and there is a need for empirical tests (Park, 2010). What does this study add? This study extends knowledge by measuring PTG with a standard instrument in a sample of UK stroke carers and investigating associated variables. The study also compared the predictive power of the models of PTG proposed by Tedeschi and Calhoun (2004) and Schaefer and Moos (1992, 1998). PTG was found in UK stroke carers, but levels differed from cancer carers in other countries. Factors associated with PTG were identified; Tedeschi and Calhoun's model best predicted PTG. Deliberate rumination had a direct effect on PTG and also mediated the effect of social support. Deliberate rumination is a possible target for therapeutic interventions to enhance PTG.
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Br J Health Psychol · Sep 2014
Stressors, social support, and tests of the buffering hypothesis: effects on psychological responses of injured athletes.
The purpose of this article was to examine the main and stress-buffering effect relationships between social support and psychological responses to injury. ⋯ What is already known on this subject? The health, social, and sport-injury related research suggests that social support has the potential to moderate (i.e., buffer) those psychological responses to stress that are detrimental to health and well-being. Despite what is a growing body of empirical research that has explored the role of social support in a sport injury context, there has been a paucity of research that has examined how social support functions in relation to injury-related stressors and psychological responses, particularly with regard to the effect of perceived and received support. In addition, there has been limited regard for current conceptualizations of social support as well as injured athletes, psychological responses in the measurement strategies adopted and measures employed. What does this study add? Enhances our understanding of the stress-buffering effects of perceived and received social support in sport. Provides support for the functional aspects of perceived support when dealing with injury-related stressors. Has important implications for the design of social support interventions that aim to expedite injured athletes successful return to sport.