OPTIMISM/PESSIMISM AS A MEDIATOR OF SOCIAL STRUCTURAL DISPARITIES EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF HOSPITALIZED ELDERS
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Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK
2006
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1150213934 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-case11502139342021-08-03T05:32:18Z OPTIMISM/PESSIMISM AS A MEDIATOR OF SOCIAL STRUCTURAL DISPARITIES EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF HOSPITALIZED ELDERS Burant, Christopher J. Physical Functioning Optimism and Pessimism Depression Latent Trajectory Depression and Physical Functioning Elders hospitalized for acute episodes of illness are often at risk for functional decline that can lead to “The Disablement Process” (Verbrugge and Jette, 1994). Studies show that one's level of optimism and pessimism impacts the recovery from chronic illnesses. The current study tests optimism and pessimism’s affect on recovery from acute conditions in 944 hospitalized elders at a large Midwest academic university affiliated hospital. This study contributes to the literature in four primary ways. First it expands the research on the relationship between optimism/pessimism and psychological well being and physical health in hospitalized elders. Second, the current study is the first to empirically test social structural disparities as antecedents to optimism and pessimism. Third, this study provides a more rigorous test concerning the dimensionality of the LOT. Finally, the present study uses a recently developed autoregressive latent trajectory (ALT) models to conduct a sophisticated analysis of the trajectory of recovery and the causal relationships between physical health and psychological well-being. Both factor analysis and a distinct pattern of relationships with antecedents and sequella indicate that optimism and pessimism are two distinct constructs – i.e., they are not opposite ends of a single variable. Optimism mediated the effect of ethnicity on the initial levels of depression, Pessimism mediated the effect of education and income on the initial levels of depression. Finally, ALT models found recovery from both depression and physical dysfunction being most rapid initially and then tapering off in later months. In conclusion, an individual’s level of optimism and pessimism does impact their initial level of physical functioning and depression, while also mediating some of the impact of social structural disparities on these outcomes. Further research needs to be developed to understand how elders might differentially recover from chronic illnesses (e.g., cancers, heart diseases, diabetes) and surgeries (e.g., joint replacement) not specifically analyzed in the current study. With regards to the real world, clinical interventions should focus on those who are more susceptible (members of disadvantaged groups and those with low levels of optimism and high levels of pessimism to have lower levels of physical health and psychological well-being. 2006-06-13 English text Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1150213934 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1150213934 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
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NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Physical Functioning Optimism and Pessimism Depression Latent Trajectory Depression and Physical Functioning |
| spellingShingle |
Physical Functioning Optimism and Pessimism Depression Latent Trajectory Depression and Physical Functioning Burant, Christopher J. OPTIMISM/PESSIMISM AS A MEDIATOR OF SOCIAL STRUCTURAL DISPARITIES EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF HOSPITALIZED ELDERS |
| author |
Burant, Christopher J. |
| author_facet |
Burant, Christopher J. |
| author_sort |
Burant, Christopher J. |
| title |
OPTIMISM/PESSIMISM AS A MEDIATOR OF SOCIAL STRUCTURAL DISPARITIES EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF HOSPITALIZED ELDERS |
| title_short |
OPTIMISM/PESSIMISM AS A MEDIATOR OF SOCIAL STRUCTURAL DISPARITIES EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF HOSPITALIZED ELDERS |
| title_full |
OPTIMISM/PESSIMISM AS A MEDIATOR OF SOCIAL STRUCTURAL DISPARITIES EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF HOSPITALIZED ELDERS |
| title_fullStr |
OPTIMISM/PESSIMISM AS A MEDIATOR OF SOCIAL STRUCTURAL DISPARITIES EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF HOSPITALIZED ELDERS |
| title_full_unstemmed |
OPTIMISM/PESSIMISM AS A MEDIATOR OF SOCIAL STRUCTURAL DISPARITIES EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF HOSPITALIZED ELDERS |
| title_sort |
optimism/pessimism as a mediator of social structural disparities effects on physical health and psychological well-being: a longitudinal study of hospitalized elders |
| publisher |
Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2006 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1150213934 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT burantchristopherj optimismpessimismasamediatorofsocialstructuraldisparitieseffectsonphysicalhealthandpsychologicalwellbeingalongitudinalstudyofhospitalizedelders |
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1719421416167702528 |