Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin current issue

Willingness to Engage in Personal Relationships With Persons With Disabilities: Examining Category and Severity of Disability

Miller, E., Chen, R., Glover-Graf, N. M., Kranz, P. — 2009-06-18

This study examined the willingness of persons without disabilities (PWODs) to engage in personal relationships with persons with disabilities (PWDs). Participants (N = 305) were primarily female Hispanic students (91%) preparing for careers in the helping professions. The Relationships and Disability Survey assessed the effect of the category and severity of disability on the type of relationships students were willing to have with PWDs. Students also ranked personal attributes of PWDs that might affect their willingness to engage in relationships. Results indicated that students were significantly more willing to have friendships and acquaintanceships with persons with mild to moderate disabilities and persons with sensory, health, and physical impairments. Students were least willing to marry or have a partnership with a PWD, especially if the PWD had cognitive and psychiatric impairments. Personal attributes of intelligence, kindness, and humor were rated most highly.

Denial of Chronic Illness and Disability: Part I. Theoretical, Functional, and Dynamic Perspectives

Livneh, H. — 2009-06-18

Denial has been an integral part of the psychological and disability literature for more than 100 years. Yet, denial is an elusive concept and has been associated with mixed, indeed conflicting, theoretical perspectives, clinical strategies, and empirical findings. In this two-part article, the author provides an overview of the existing literature on denial that addresses the most prominent and rehabilitation-relevant features of it. Part I provides a generic yet clinically based discussion of denial and focuses on the following: historical perspective of denial, the definitions of denial, the types or forms of denial most often encountered in the literature, the functions served by denial, the indicators or markers most frequently associated with denial, the dynamics and processes inherent in the operation of denial, and the costs and benefits of denial.

Adherence to Medical Regimens: Understanding the Effects of Cognitive Appraisal, Quality of Life, and Perceived Family Resiliency

Frain, M. P., Bishop, M., Tschopp, M. K., Ferrin, M. J., Frain, J. — 2009-06-18

Adherence studies have taken center stage due to the life-threatening risks associated with nonadherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens for people with HIV/AIDS. This study examines adherence through self-report of individuals on HAART regimens in a manner to account for demand characteristic bias, while still attempting to get an accurate portrayal of individuals' adherence to their medication. Results indicate that individuals who are more certain about their course of treatment, are more trusting of their medical provider, have family resources, and are more optimistic about life adhere better. The model predicts who will be adherent with 92% accuracy while accounting for 55% of the variance in adherence. Practice implications for increasing adherence and accurately assessing adherence are discussed.

Operationalizing Self-Efficacy, Related Social Cognitive Variables, and Moderating Effects: Implications for Rehabilitation Research and Practice

O'Sullivan, D., Strauser, D. R. — 2009-06-18

Self-efficacy, a core construct of Bandura's social cognitive theory, has wide appeal and usefulness in the health and social sciences. Self-efficacy is frequently used across disciplines to assess an individual's beliefs about her likelihood to engage in a certain behavior. Because of the behavioral-change approaches common in rehabilitation counseling interventions, self-efficacy is an important construct to operationalize, measure, and apply for best research and clinical outcomes. Several factors contribute to inaccurate or inappropriate assessment, measurement, interpretation, and application of this important construct; numerous scales used to measure efficacy, various contexts, related constructs, and moderating effects of efficacy make best use of efficacy measurement and application difficult. This article outlines the theory of self-efficacy, distinguishes its closely related constructs, summarizes common moderating effects, and provides important considerations for clinical practice and research.

Book Review: Martz, E., & Livneh, H. (Eds.). (2007). Coping With Chronic Illness and Disability: Theoretical, Empirical, and Clinical Aspects. New York: Springer. 430 pp., $89.95 (hardcover)

Chapin, M. H. — 2009-06-18

Continuing Education Questions: July 2009 -- Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin

2009-06-18