A biobehavioral framework of worry for nursing application.
Worry, characterized by repetitive and involuntary aversive thoughts about perceived concerns, is a central mental health complaint known to negatively impact quality of life of individuals facing perceived threats to health or well-being. Although empirical focus on worry has escalated over the past three decades, there has been less attention to current research trends and knowledge development related to this important phenomenon in nursing. This article presents a biobehavioral conceptual framework of worry for nursing application that is derived from a concept synthesis of biological, behavioral, clinical, and cognitive psychology sources. Databases including CINAHL, EBM Review, Health & Wellness Resource Center, PsycINFO, and PubMed were systematically reviewed for the years 2000-2012. The adapted conceptual framework describes relationships among perceived threat; process, structure, and content worry attributes; and outcomes of worry. The framework may be applied in clinical environments as a resource to better understand and care for patients facing perceived threats to health and well-being. The framework contributes a foundation to build empirical knowledge for nursing practice, theory, and research that has potential to improve patient well-being and health-related quality of life outcomes.
Rebecca H
RH
Lehto
D006801:Humans; D009736:Nursing Process; D013315:Stress, Psychological