Psychiatric Symptoms, Psychosocial Factors, and Life Satisfaction Among Persons With Serious Mental Illness: A Path Analysis.

This study explores the effects of biopsychosocial factors on life satisfaction among persons with serious mental illness. Participants in this study included a convenience sample of 194 adults recruited from Texas and Wisconsin. A path analysis was conducted with psychiatric symptoms as an exogenous variable, and illness insight, social self-efficacy, social support, community integration, and life satisfaction as endogenous variables. Beginning with a hypothesized model, a best model was obtained after removing the paths that were not significant and adding recommended paths supported by theory. In the final model, psychiatric symptoms, social self-efficacy, social support, and community integration were directly associated with life satisfaction. Illness insight did not directly affect life satisfaction but had indirect effects. Psychiatric symptoms may be the most important and direct predictor of life satisfaction; illness insight, social self-efficacy, social support, and community integration buffer the direct of effect of psychiatric symptoms on life satisfaction.

Predicting quality of life in adults with severe mental illness: Extending the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework was used to investigate person-environment contextual factors, mental functioning, activity limitations, and participation as predictors of quality of life (QoL) in adults with severe mental illness (SMI). RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN: A quantitative descriptive design using multiple regression and correlational analyses was used. One hundred ninety-four individuals with SMI from 4 community-based mental health agencies in 2 states from Southern and Midwestern regions of the United States participated in the study. The criterion variable was QoL. Predictor variables comprised the ICF constructs: (a) demographics, (b) personal factors, (c) environmental factors, (d) mental functioning, (e) activity limitations, and (f) participation. RESULTS: A majority of participants were White (60.3%) and not employed (59.8%). Half of them received Social Security Disability Income and/or Supplemental Security Income (50.0%). Correlations between QoL and the predictor variables ranged from small to large (r = .01 to .63, respectively). The final regression model accounted for 58% of the variance in QoL. After controlling for other factors, social competency, social support, societal stigma, psychological distress, cognitive dysfunction, activity limitations, and participation were found to be significant predictors of QoL in adults with SMI. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The study supports the use of the ICF to predict QoL for adults with SMI. Evidence-based treatments focused on increasing social competence, social support, and participation should be developed to promote rehabilitation outcomes and overall QoL.

The Multiple Sclerosis Self-Management Scale: revision and psychometric analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The Multiple Sclerosis Self-Management scale (MSSM) was developed to provide a multidimensional and psychometrically sound assessment of self-management knowledge and behavior among adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). This article describes recent revisions to the scale and presents the results of subsequent analyses of the factor structure and psychometric adequacy of the revised MSSM. METHOD: Participants were 197 adults with MS randomly selected from mailing lists of 3 chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Participants completed mailed questionnaires including the MSSM and several additional instruments measuring constructs associated with self-management. RESULTS: Factor analysis of the revised MSSM revealed 5 psychometrically sound factors. Construct validity was supported by factor analysis and correlation of the MSSM with constructs related to self-management. Specifically, the MSSM was significantly positively correlated with MS self-efficacy and quality of life ratings, and significantly negatively correlated with psychological and physical impact of MS, as measured with the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale. Internal consistency reliability for the scale was acceptable (α = .85). CONCLUSION: The MSSM, as revised, is a brief, psychometrically sound, and multidimensional self-management scale for research and clinical applications.

Empowerment variables for rehabilitation clients on perceived beliefs concerning work quality of life domains.

This article describes and presents an initial analysis of variables generally associated with empowerment towards perceived beliefs concerning quality of life work domains for individuals with disabilities. The model examines the domains of importance, satisfaction, control and degree of interference of disability that an individual feels towards work. The internet based study used results from 70 individuals with disabilities in varying aspects of work. The variables composing empowerment that correlated strongly with the work domains include: self-advocacy, self-efficacy, perceived stigma, and family resiliency as measured through coping. Quality of Life concerning work was measured through the DSC-C a domain specific QOL instrument.