Predictors of psychosocial adjustment in systemic sclerosis. The influence of formal education level, functional ability, hardiness, uncertainty, and social support.
OBJECTIVE
To determine predictors of psychosocial adjustment in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).


METHODS
We surveyed 94 patients with SSc. Age, sex, education level, marital status, work status, income, support group attendance, length of time since diagnosis, functional status, social support, illness-related uncertainty, and hardiness were examined as potential predictors of psychosocial adjustment. The reliability and validity of the instruments used to measure these variables have been established.


RESULTS
Only education level, functional ability, illness-related uncertainty, hardiness, and social support were predictive of psychosocial adjustment. Education level and functional ability explained 14% of the variance in psychosocial adjustment, while illness-related uncertainty, hardiness, and social support increased the explained variance to 38%.


CONCLUSIONS
Although patients with relatively poorer psychosocial adjustment to illness have lower formal education levels and more functional disability, the majority of the explained variance in psychosocial adjustment is ascribable to illness-related uncertainty, low level of hardiness, and less satisfaction with social support.
Moser
D K
DK
School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles 90024-6918.
Clements
P J
PJ
Brecht
M L
ML
Weiner
S R
SR
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012944:Social Support