title: Emotional distress in men with life-threatening illness.
abstract: This descriptive survey explored the relationship of health status, functional status, stressful life events, stress resistance resources and emotional distress in 60 men with life-threatening illness (N = 30 with cancer and N = 30 with AIDS). Sixty-two percent met CES-D criteria for clinical depression. This study's results supported the hypotheses that poorer functional status and greater negative stressors are associated with both higher levels of hopelessness and depression. Twenty-four patients constituted a group with severe emotional distress. This group was significantly different from the less vulnerable group with poorer functional status (KPS), a greater number and severity of negative stressors, less satisfaction with social support, and less hopefulness.
authors.affiliation: UCLA School of Nursing 90095-6917, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Servellen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sarna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Padilla
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Brecht
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D016015:Logistic Models; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009013:Morale; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support