Abstract
The loss of autonomy that results from a disabling chronic illness is one of the most difficult and stressful experiences to cope with for an older adult. The ability lost is frequently never regained, and the older adult suffers from both the present loss and anticipation of a future of sustained and even increased confinement, both physical and psychological. As other investigators have found (see Zautra & Hempel, 1984, for a review), our research on older adults indicates that activity limitation has pervasive adverse effects on mental health (Reich & Zautra, 1988; Zautra, Guarnaccia, & Reich, 1988; Zautra, Reich, & Newsom, 1995). In comparison to those without impairment, older adults with functional loss often show more anxiety, more depression, less positive affect, and lower self-esteem (Reich & Zautra, 1988). The loss of autonomy due to chronic illness appears to lower one’s sense of personal control in general. Indeed, chronically ill adults show more fatalism, more helplessness (Smith & Wallston, 1992), and less perceived control over future events than do healthy controls (Lennon, Dohrenwend, Zautra, & Marbach, 1990).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bandura, A. (1992). Self-efficacy mechanism in psychobiologic functioning. In R. Schwarzer (Ed.), Self-efficacy: Thought control of action (p. 355–393 ). Washington DC: Hemisphere.
Bandura, A., andAdams, N. E. (1977). Analysis of self-efficacy theory of behavioral change. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 1, 287–310.
Bradburn, N. (1969). The structure of psychological well-being. Chicago: Aldine.
Coyne, J. C. and Smith, D. A. F. (1994). Couples coping with a myocardial infarction: Contextual perspective on patient self-efficacy. Journal of Family Psychology, 8, 43–54.
Cozzarelli, C. (1993). Personality and self-efficacy as predictors of coping with abortion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 1224–1236.
Crowne, D. P., and Marlowe, D. (1964). The approval motive: Studies in evaluative dependence. New York: Wiley.
Cutrona, C. E. (1990). Stress and social support-In search of optimal matching. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 9, 3–14.
Dohrenwend, B. P., Shrout, P. E., Egri, G., and Mendelsohn, F. S. (1980). Nonspecific psychological distress and other dimensions of psychopathology. Archives of General Psychiatry, 37, 1229–1236.
Elliott, G. R., and Eisdorfer, C. (Eds.). (1982). Stress and human health: Analysis and implications for research. New York: Springer.
Epstein, S. (1979). The stability of behavior: I. On predicting most of the people much of the time. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 1097–1126.
Finch, J. F., Okun, M. A., Barrera, M., Zautra, A. J., and Reich, J. W. (1989). Measurement models of positive and negative social ties: Their generalizability across elderly subgroups and their relationships to psychological distress and life satisfaction. American Journal of Community Psychology, 17, 585–605.
Grossman, R. M. (1986). Attributions of responsibility and social support. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.
Herzberg, F. (1966). Work and the nature of man. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell.
Kahana, E., Kahana, B., and Riley, K. (1989). Person-environment transactions relevant to control and helplessness in institutional settings. In P. S. Fry (Ed.), Psychological perspectives of helplessness and control in the elderly (pp. 121–153 ). Amsterdam: North Holland.
Lawton, M. P. (1982). Competence, environmental press, and the adaptation of older people. In M. P. Lawton, P. G. Windley, and T. O. Byerts (Eds.), Aging and the environment: Theoretical approaches (pp. 35–39 ). New York: Springer.
Lazarus, R. S. (1966). Psychological stress and the coping process. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Lee, G. P., Loring, D. W., Dahl, J. L., and Meador, K. J. (1993). Hemispheric specialization for emotional expression. Neuropsychiatry, Neuropsychology, and Behavioral Neurology, 6, 143–148.
Lennon, M. C., Dohrenwend, B. P., Zautra, A. J., and Marbach, J. J. (1990). Coping and adaptation to facial pain in contrast to other stressful life events. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 1040–1050.
Levenson, H. (1981). Differentiating among internality, powerful others and chance. In H. M. Lefcourt (Ed.), Research with the locus of control construct: Vol. 1. assessment methods (pp. 15–63 ). New York: Academic Press.
Lewin, K. (1951). Selected theoretical papers. In D. Cartwright (Ed.). Field theory in social science. New York: Harper and Row.
Manne, S., and Zautra, A. J. (1989). The effects of spouse critical remarks on psychological adjustment to rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56, 608617.
Pearlin, L., and Schooler, C. (1978). The structure of coping. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 19, 2–21.
Reich, J., and Zautra, A. J. (1981). Life events and personal causation: Some relationships with satisfaction and distress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 41, 1002–1012.
Reich, J. W., and Zautra, A. J. (1988). Direct and moderating effects of positive life events. In L. N. Cohen (Ed.), Advances in research on stressful life events (pp. 149–181 ). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Reich, J. W., and Zautra, A. J. (1991). Experimental and measurement approaches to internal control in older adults. Journal of Social Issues, 47, 143–188.
Reich, J. W., Zautra, A. J., and Guarnaccia, C. A. (1989). Effects of disability and bereavement on the mental health and recovery of older adults. Psychology and Aging, 4, 5765.
Reich, J. W., Zautra, A. J., and Hill, J. (1987). Activity, event transactions and quality of life of the elderly. Psychology and Aging, 2, 116–124.
Revenson, T. A., and Felton, B. J. (1984). Disability and coping as predictors of psychological adjustment to rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57, 344–348.
Smith, C. A., and Wallston, K. A. (1992). Adaptation in patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis: Application of a general model. Health Psychology, 11, 151–162.
Taylor, C. B., Bandura, A., Ewart, C. K., Miller, N. H., and Debusk, R. F. (1985). Exercise testing to enhance wives’ confidence in their husbands’ cardiac capabilities soon after clinically uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction. American Journal of Cardiology, 55, 635–638.
Teresi, J. A., Golden, R. R., Gurland, B. J., Wilder, D. E., and Bennett, R. G. (1983). Construct validity of indicator scales development from the comprehensive assessment and interview schedule. Unpublished manuscript.
Watson, D., and Clark, L. A. (1984). Negative affectivity: The disposition to experience aversive emotional states. Psychological Bulletin, 96, 465–490.
Zautra, A. J., Burleson, M., Matt, K., Roth, S., and Burrows, L. (1994). Interpersonal stress and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. Health Psychology, 13, 139–148.
Zautra, A. J., Guarnaccia, C., and Reich, J. W. (1988). Structure of mental health of older adults. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 514–519.
Zautra, A. J., Guenther, R. T., and Chartier, G. (1985). Attributions for real and hypothetical events: Their relation to self-esteem and depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 94, 530–540.
Zautra, A. J., and Hempel, A. (1984). Subjective well-being and physical health status: A narrative review with some suggestions for future research. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 19, 95–110.
Zautra, A. J., Okun, M. A., Robinson, S. E., Lee, D., Roth, S. H., and Emmanual, J. (1989). Life stress and lymphocyte alterations among rheumatoid arthritis patients. Health Psychology, 8, 1–14.
Zautra, A., and Reich, J. W. (1980). Positive life events and reports of well-being: Some useful distinctions. American Journal of Community Psychology, 8, 657–670.
Zautra, A. J., Reich, J. W., and Guarnaccia, C. A. (1990). The everyday life consequences of disability and bereavement for older adults. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 550–561.
Zautra, A. J., Reich, J. W., andNewsom, J. T. (1995). Autonomy and sense of control among older adults: An examination of their effects on mental health. In L. Bond, S. Cutter, and A. Grams (Eds.), Promoting successful and productive aging. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Zautra, A. J., and Wrabetz, A. (1991). Coping success and its relationship to psychological distress for older adults. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 801–810.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Zautra, A.J., Hoffman, J.M., Reich, J.W. (1997). The Role of Two Kinds of Efficacy Beliefs in Maintaining the Well-Being of Chronically Stressed Older Adults. In: Gottlieb, B.H. (eds) Coping with Chronic Stress. The Springer Series on Stress and Coping. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9862-3_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9862-3_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9864-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9862-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive