Sense of coherence and life satisfaction: patient and spousal adaptation to home dialysis.
OBJECTIVE
This research examined the adaptation of 24 male patients and their spouses to end-stage renal disease and home/self-care dialysis. The research was conceptualized within the T-Double ABCX Model. Selected predictors included sense of coherence (SOC) (the degree to which one feels confident that life's challenges will be comprehensible, manageable, and worthy of a commitment of self), age, and socioeconomic status (SES).


METHODS
Eleven of the 22 dialysis centers in the province of Ontario, Canada were invited to participate. Of these 11, seven agreed to participate.


METHODS
Twenty-eight couples who were using home PD.


METHODS
A descriptive, correlational research design was used with data collected by mailed survey.


METHODS
Adaptation, the health outcome of interest, was measured using perceived satisfaction with life (SWL).


RESULTS
There was a large, positive relationship between patients' and spouses' SOC and adaptation. However, further analyses challenged the construct validity of the SOC instrument. A small, positive relationship was found between age and adaptation.


CONCLUSIONS
Further research regarding the SOC is required prior to use in nursing practice.
Horsburgh
M E
ME
School of Nursing, University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Rice
V H
VH
Matuk
L
L
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires