title: Conceptualization and development of the Acceptance of Chronic Health Conditions Scale.
abstract: Acceptance of chronic conditions often has been studied from the perspective of grief and loss. This paper presents a new conceptualization of acceptance of chronic conditions that is grounded in the perspective of those living with a chronic condition and focuses on adaptation to and acceptance of change in one's life. Data obtained from a sample of 822 persons with multiple sclerosis and a sample of more than 2,000 polio survivors support the reliability and validity of the new Acceptance of Chronic Health Conditions Scale.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing, Austin, TX 78701, USA. astuifbergen@mail.utexas.edu
authors.forename: Alexa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stuifbergen
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blozis
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beal
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015206:Southwestern United States; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*