Making sense of illness or disability: The nature of sense making in multiple sclerosis (MS)

Pakenham, Kenneth I. (2008) Making sense of illness or disability: The nature of sense making in multiple sclerosis (MS). Journal of Health Psychology, 13 1: 93-105. doi:10.1177/1359105307084315


Author Pakenham, Kenneth I.
Title Making sense of illness or disability: The nature of sense making in multiple sclerosis (MS)
Journal name Journal of Health Psychology   Check publisher's open access policy
ISSN 1359-1053
Publication date 2008-01-01
Year available 2008
Sub-type Article (original research)
DOI 10.1177/1359105307084315
Open Access Status DOI
Volume 13
Issue 1
Start page 93
End page 105
Total pages 13
Editor David Marks
Place of publication United Kingdom
Publisher Sage Publications Ltd.
Language eng
Subject C1
170106 Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology
920410 Mental Health
Abstract This study investigated sense making in multiple sclerosis (MS) and relations with illness, religious-spiritual beliefs and adjustment (life satisfaction, positive states of mind, depression, anxiety). Four hundred and eight persons with MS completed a questionnaire. Half the sample generated sense making explanations for their illness. Content analyses revealed 16 sense making themes. Participants who reported having a religious-spiritual belief were more likely to report sense making than those who did not have such a belief. Sense making was related to lower disability and disease severity and evidenced beneficial direct effects on positive adjustment outcomes and depression after controlling for illness and religious-spiritual belief.
Keyword adjustment
multiple-sclerosis
meaning
quality of life
sense making
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article (original research)
Collections: 2009 Higher Education Research Data Collection
School of Psychology Publications
 
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Citation counts: TR Web of Science Citation Count  Cited 26 times in Thomson Reuters Web of Science Article | Citations
Scopus Citation Count Cited 27 times in Scopus Article | Citations
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Created: Thu, 16 Apr 2009, 04:38:55 EST by Lucy O'Brien on behalf of School of Psychology