Scholarship & Research
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Item Social support in pediatric oncology(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 1996) Roope, Beverly Colleen; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Ardella FraleyItem Social support and health of partners of people with multiple sclerosis(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 1995) Burns, Laura JeanItem Perceived social support and self-esteem in pregnant adolescents choosing to parent(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 1994) Scofield, Nada DerryItem Women, spirituality, and chronic illness(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2004) Hampton, Jenaneta Sue; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Clarann WeinertPeople with chronic health conditions can experience life changing limitations which often require the help of family or other outside resources to manage the condition. Rural dwellers are at increased risk for chronic health conditions. Social support and spirituality have both been shown to be important contributors to adjustment, health, management, and, nursing care of chronically ill people. The purpose of this study was to explore expressions of spirituality in rural women with chronic illness, and investigate the relationship between spirituality and social support. This study was a secondary data analysis, in which data already collected through a larger research project were examined using qualitative and quantitative techniques. The secondary analysis was conducted with data collected from the Women to Women study at Montana State University-Bozeman, a study which provided computer-based support to women with chronic illness who lived in rural Montana. Asynchronous, computer-based communications of thirteen women were examined. A content analysis of data previously identified as having spiritual content by the research team was undertaken. Analysis of Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ) scores, was also performed. Six categories emerged from the content analysis, which were prayer, faith, verse, finding meaning, transcendence, and family. The women used spirituality to support each other and they shared and relied on their faith to deal with trying times. They prayed for each other, shared bible verses, hymns, and poems all in an effort to deal with illness and daily life. The degree of social support was examined and there was no statistical difference in PRQ scores from the beginning to the end of the computer intervention phase. The communications of the women who had particularly high or low scores were further explored relative to their group interactions. Results of this study were consistent with findings in previous literature that identified a link between spirituality and social support, yet the relationship between the two remains unclear. Nursing implications include clarifying the role of spirituality in chronic illness and the continued research into the relationship between spirituality and social support.Item The lived experience of social support in adolescent diabetes patients(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2012) Scott, Daen Eve; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Charlene WintersAdolescence is a time of change in many aspects of a person's life, and this time is further complicated by the presence of a chronic illness such as diabetes. Further, the metabolic control exhibited by teens is generally worse than at other points in life, with as many as 30-50% being characterized as out of control Despite extensive research on the interaction between the social milieu and diabetes control, results have been inconclusive or contradictory. The purpose of this study was to explore how adolescents ages 12-18 experience social support from friends and peers. A convenience sample of adolescent patients from three clinics in a small city in south central Montana were interviewed regarding friendships, use of insulin delivery devices, social networking, and the impact of diabetes on social interaction and daily life. An inductive analysis approach revealed nine themes: full disclosure, taking care of myself, getting help, making it a part of life, people who know are important, sharing information as positive, adults as negative reactors, age differences make a difference and heavy issues early in life. Technology, such as insulin pumps and online social networking, was found to have a major positive impact in participants' social functioning and control. Peer relationships with other teens with diabetes were found to be important and different from friendships with non-diabetics. Negative reactions and social impacts were found to be much more prominent from adults than from same age peers. Implications include the need for further investigation of how technology might benefit teens with chronic conditions, the potential for positive impact from peer connection and mentoring programs, and the importance of clinicians' awareness of patients' social functioning as it impacts care behaviors and general well being.