Denise Catalano

The Relationship of Coping, Self-Worth, and Subjective Well-Being: A Structural Equation Model

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between various coping-related variables and the evaluation of self-worth and subjective well-being among persons with spinal cord injury. Positive coping variables included hope, proactive coping style, and sense of humor, whereas negative coping variables included perceptions of stress, dysfunctional attitudes, and catastrophizing. Evaluations of self-worth were determined by measures of self-esteem and acceptance of disability. Quality of life and life satisfaction were indicators of subjective well-being. The results of the study indicate that negative coping has a negative association with both positive self-worth and subjective well-being. Feelings of positive self-worth were found to be positively associated with subjective well-being. In addition, positive coping appears to influence subjective well-being positively by first increasing feelings of positive self-worth. The findings indicate that coping strategies play an important role in the psychosocial adjustment of individuals with disabilities, and subsequently, in their quality of life. The implications for counseling individuals with disabilities are discussed.

Contemporary Issues Facing Rehabilitation Counseling: A Delphi Study of the Perspectives of Leaders of the Discipline

Challenges to the profession of rehabilitation counseling have frequently been cited in the rehabilitation counseling literature, but little empirical evidence exists about the perceptions of the field’s leadership regarding the current critical issues of importance to the field. This study reports the results of a Delphi study that elicited consensus opinions among the field’s leadership about issues critical to the field of rehabilitation counseling. Despite some variation in the degree of importance ascribed to the issues identified by participants, 41 of the 42 issues identified by participants were considered to be important in the final rounds of the study. These issues can be thematically classified into five domains: (a) professional identity and recognition; (b) changes in service delivery systems; (c) education and training issues; (d) research; and (e) professional association issues. Implications for the field of rehabilitation counseling are discussed.

Attachment Style, Social Support, and Coping as Psychosocial Correlates of Happiness in Persons With Spinal Cord Injuries

Objective: To examine the roles of attachment, social support, and coping as psychosocial correlates in predicting happiness in people with spinal cord injuries. Design: Quantitative descriptive research design using multiple regression and correlation techniques. Participants: 274 individuals with spinal cord injuries. Outcome Measures: Happiness as measured by the Subjective Happiness Scale. Results: Functional disability and psychosocial correlates including coping, attachment styles, and social support were found to be associated with happiness scores. Functional disability was found to have a large negative effect on happiness and the effect was significantly reduced after taking into consideration the effect of positive psychology factors. Conclusion: Positive psychology variables are important for happiness and subjective well-being, and happiness in turn is related to better quality of life. The negative relationship between functional disability and happiness can be mediated by attachment, social support, and coping. Rehabilitation professionals should deemphasize negative characteristics related to poor psychological adjustment and focus on positive human traits and positive psychology interventions for people with disabilities.

Psychometric Validation of the Moorong Self-Efficacy Scale in People With Spinal Cord Injury A Brief Report

The main study objective was to further evaluate the factorial validity of the Moorong Self-Efficacy Scale (MSES) with 266 Canadians with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Exploratory factor analysis yielded three reliable factors (Interpersonal, Instrumental, and Participation Self-Efficacy) building on earlier studies that extracted two factors. The MSES appears to be a promising rehabilitation assessment tool for individuals with SCI.

The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale as a Positive Psychology Measure for People with Spinal Cord Injuries.

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the measurement structure of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) as a positive psychology measure for people with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) using confirmatory factor analysis. The participants consisted of 274 Canadians with SCI living in the community. The result indicated that the 5-factor intercorrelated model fits the data reasonably well (χ2 = 635.20; p value < .001; χ2/df = 2.40; CFI = .90; RMSEA = 0.07). These 5 factors (personal competence, high standards, and tenacity; trust in one’s instincts, tolerance of negative affect, and strengthening effects of stress; positive acceptance of change and secure relationships; control; and spiritual influence) correlated positively with disability acceptance and happiness, and inversely related to depression. The reliability of the 5 subscales was good ranging from .65 to .92. In conclusion, the results of this study confirmed that the 5-factor structure of the CD-RISC observed in the general population can be replicated in a sample of Canadians with SCI. This resilience scale can be used as a positive psychology measure in rehabilitation counseling research and practice.

Self-efficacy as a mediator for the relationship between secure attachment style and employment status in individuals with spinal cord injuries

PURPOSE: To evaluate the mediation effect of self-efficacy on the relationship between secure attachment and employment status of people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). DESIGN: Quantitative descriptive research design using logistic regression, multiple regression, and correlational techniques. METHODS: One hundred and ninety individuals with SCI were recruited from the Canadian Paraplegic Association. Only individuals ages between 25–54 years (prime working age) were selected for this study. RESULTS: Secure attachment and self-efficacy were significantly related to employment status. Self-efficacy was found to be a significant mediator of the relationship between secure attachment and employment status. CONCLUSION: Results provide support for the importance of building a strong working alliance and helping individuals with SCI in the professional practice of rehabilitation counseling.

Physical Activity in Individuals with Severe Mental Illness: Client versus Case Manager Ratings.

The Physical Activity Scale for Individuals With Physical Disabilities was examined as a physical activity measure for people with severe mental illness. Case manager ratings were more closely related to body mass index than clients’ ratings, challenging the accuracy of self-report physical activity measures for individuals with severe mental illness.

Mindfulness as a protective factor against depressive symptoms in people with fibromyalgia

Abstract Background: Depressive symptoms complicate pain management for people with FM, with adverse consequences such as a greater need for pain medications and limited pain coping strategies. Determining risks and protective factors associated with depressive symptoms in persons with FM could inform the development and implementation of mental health interventions. Aims: To formulate and test a behavioral activation model of depression with mindfulness as a protective factor for people with FM. Methods: We conducted an online cross-sectional survey with 117 adults with FM from community and clinic networks. Path analysis was used to assess the relationships of pain intensity, perceived stress, activity interference, pain catastrophizing and mindfulness with depressive symptoms. Results: Mindfulness has a negative direct association with depressive symptoms and a negative indirect association with depressive symptoms through perceived stress, activity interference and pain catastrophizing. Perceived stress, activity interference and pain catastrophizing had direct associations with depressive symptoms. Finally, perceived stress, activity interference and pain catastrophizing had indirect associations with depressive symptoms through pain intensity. Conclusions: Mindfulness seems to play an important role as a protective factor against the negative effects of stress and depression among people with FM and should be included in mental health interventions for chronic pain.