title: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and hopelessness: psychosocial factors.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of psychosocial factors to the presence of hopelessness among patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Secondary cross-sectional analyses were conducted with data collected from 136 ALS patients. Primary research questions were examined using hierarchical multiple regression procedures. Results showed that health locus of control and purpose in life were significant predictors of hopelessness among ALS patients. Other factors, including socioeconomic and demographic variables, variables measuring length and severity of illness, and additional psychosocial variables (social support satisfaction and degree to which spiritual beliefs help to cope with ALS) were not significant predictors of hopelessness. Results are discussed in light of the benefit to ALS patients of psychosocial interventions in disease management.
authors.affiliation: PhD Program in Gerontology, University of Kentucky, 101 Sanders-Brown Building, Lexington, KY 40536-0230, USA. jmplah0@uky.edu
authors.forename: Janice M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Plahuta
authors.forename: B Jan
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McCulloch
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kasarskis
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Rhoda A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Evelyn R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: McDonald
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009013:Morale; D015143:Philadelphia; D011788:Quality of Life; D012106:Research; D012495:San Francisco; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D014481:United States; D014861:Washington