TY - JOUR
T1 - Social support and psychological adjustment among latinas with arthritis
T2 - A test of a theoretical model
AU - Abraído-Lanza, Ana F.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was based on a portion of Ana F. Abraído-Lanza’s dissertation, which was conducted at the City University of New York (CUNY) and supported primarily by a Dissertation Grant from the Minority Fellowship Program of the American Psychological Association, a grant from the Spring Foundation for Contemporary Research on Women, and a CUNY President’s Dissertation Year Award from the MAGNET program. Support for preparing this article was provided by Grant AR46858 from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Background: Among people coping with chronic illness, tangible social support sometimes has unintended negative consequences on the recipient's psychological health. Identity processes may help explain these effects. Individuals derive self-worth and a sense of competence by enacting social roles that are central to the self-concept. Purpose: This study tested a model drawing from some of these theoretical propositions. The central hypothesis was that tangible support in fulfilling a highly valued role undermines self-esteem and a sense of self-efficacy, which, in turn, affect psychological adjustment. Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with 98 Latina women with arthritis who rated the homemaker identity as being of central importance to the self-concept. Results: A path analysis indicated that, contrary to predictions, tangible housework support was related to less psychological distress. Emotional support predicted greater psychological well-being. These relationships were not mediated by self-esteem or self-efficacy. Qualitative data revealed that half of the sample expressed either ambivalent or negative feelings about receiving housework support. Conclusions: Results may reflect social and cultural norms concerning the types of support that are helpful and appropriate from specific support providers. Future research should consider the cultural meaning and normative context of the support transaction. This study contributes to scarce literatures on the mechanisms that mediate the relationship between social support and adjustment, as well as illness and psychosocial adaptation among Latina women with chronic illness.
AB - Background: Among people coping with chronic illness, tangible social support sometimes has unintended negative consequences on the recipient's psychological health. Identity processes may help explain these effects. Individuals derive self-worth and a sense of competence by enacting social roles that are central to the self-concept. Purpose: This study tested a model drawing from some of these theoretical propositions. The central hypothesis was that tangible support in fulfilling a highly valued role undermines self-esteem and a sense of self-efficacy, which, in turn, affect psychological adjustment. Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with 98 Latina women with arthritis who rated the homemaker identity as being of central importance to the self-concept. Results: A path analysis indicated that, contrary to predictions, tangible housework support was related to less psychological distress. Emotional support predicted greater psychological well-being. These relationships were not mediated by self-esteem or self-efficacy. Qualitative data revealed that half of the sample expressed either ambivalent or negative feelings about receiving housework support. Conclusions: Results may reflect social and cultural norms concerning the types of support that are helpful and appropriate from specific support providers. Future research should consider the cultural meaning and normative context of the support transaction. This study contributes to scarce literatures on the mechanisms that mediate the relationship between social support and adjustment, as well as illness and psychosocial adaptation among Latina women with chronic illness.
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U2 - 10.1207/s15324796abm2703_4
DO - 10.1207/s15324796abm2703_4
M3 - Article
C2 - 15184092
AN - SCOPUS:2942517560
SN - 0883-6612
VL - 27
SP - 162
EP - 171
JO - Annals of Behavioral Medicine
JF - Annals of Behavioral Medicine
IS - 3
ER -