| Description |
The focus of this study was to measure and describe the variables of recent life changes or stresses, and a measure of ego strength in a group of hospitalized subjects and a non-hospitalized group. This focus seemed relevant in light of increasing evidence which has suggested that a cluster of recent life events precedes physical or emotional illness. The purpose of the research was to look for relationships between the variables life stresses and ego strength. The sample included two groups of hospitalized patients, psychiatric and medical-surgical, from in-patient units at the University Hospital in Salt Lake City, and one group of non-hospitalized individuals. The non-hospitalized sample was selected from visitors in the Outpatient Department of the University Hospital, from visitors to Cottonwood Hospital, a 157-bed private hospital, and from acquaintances of the investigator. The sample totaled 82, with 52 subjects in the hospitalized sample and 30 in the non-hospitalized sample. For inclusion in either sample, criteria were established: l) must agree to participate in the study, 2) must be able to take a paper and pencil test and fill out the necessary forms, and 3) must be an adult not under 14 years of age. For the hospitalized sample, individuals were not considered if the diagnosis of illness were chronic with the exception of an acute exacerbation of the illness. The sample was selected over a four months' period of time according to the criteria established. There were no limitations an to sex, age above 14 years, diagnosis, previous hospitalizations, or socioeconomic status. The Schedule of Recent Experience (SRE) was used to measure the variable of recent life stresses or changes for the year prior to testing. The rating scale used to measure ego strength was the Ego Strength Scale (ESS) which purportedly was a measure of adaptive processes. An additional Biographical Information Form (BIF) was given to the subjects when the first two forms were filled out, for collection of demographic data. The Pearson product-moment correlations indicated that ego strength (ES) was positively associated with age, and negatively associated with SRE scores (p< .05). Ego weakness was positively associated with SRE score and negatively correlated with the non-hospitalized group (p< .001). Age and SRE were negatively correlated (p < .001). A one way analysis of variance was computed. The F level indicated that the scores of the three groups were significantly (p <.001) different on the measure of EW, but not on the SRE or ES measures. The t test was used for the third analysis of data to compare the means of the hospitalized group and the non-hospitalized group as well as the two hospitalized groups. Only the means of the two hospitalized groups were significantly different, and only on the EW and the SRE scores. This was an important finding and was discussed in terms of nursing intervention. The differences between the groups provided important input for further research, some of which were discussed in the report. |
