Date of Award

Summer 8-17-2017

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

PhD Nursing

Department

Nursing

Advisor

Marie Foley, Ph.D

Committee Member

Marcia Gardner, Ph.D

Committee Member

Judith Lucas, Ed.D

Keywords

resilience, coping, diabetes, adolescents, young adults, stress

Abstract

There is a need to understand the roles coping strategies play in enhancing resilience in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes between the ages of 18-30. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between and among positive, protective coping strategies (courageous coping), negative coping strategies (defensive coping), and resilience. The Resilience in Illness Model (Haase, Kinter, Monahan, & Robb, 2014) was the theoretical model which guided this research.

A convenience sample was recruited via diabetes organizations’ Facebook and Forum pages, a College Diabetes Network chapter meeting, and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundations’ (JDRF) sponsored events. Data were collected both online via SurveyMonkey™ and in paper form at sponsored events. The survey consisted of the demographic information form, the Jalowiec Coping Scale, and the Resilience Scale.

Participants consisted largely of white (91%), educated (91%) females (79%). Females scored significantly higher than their male counterparts in the use of courageous coping strategies (F (1, 64) = 11.98, p = .001). There were no significant differences found between each of the age categories (18-19, 20-24, 25-30) on courageous coping, defensive coping, and resilience scale scores. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine whether resilience was predicted from a linear combination of the five coping subscales. Correlations between each of the coping subscales and resilience showed the subscales confrontive (.52), optimistic (.39), and supportant (.25) to be significantly positively correlated (p < .05). The evasive subscale (-.31) was significantly negatively correlated with resilience (p < .05). A multiple regression analysis for two unordered sets of predictors (courageous coping and defensive coping) to predict resilience was performed. Both regression equations were significant (p < .05). Partial correlational analysis showed, that both courageous coping and defensive coping act to modify the effects of the other in the promotion of resilience.

Coping strategies play a significant role in enhancing resilience in AYA with type 1 diabetes. This study supports past research identifying active coping or problem focused coping, as coping strategies, which are associated with positive adaptive outcomes such as enhanced resilience.

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