Influencias terapéuticas del optimismo en las estrategias de afrontamiento y la calidad de vida de pacientes con enfermedades crónico-degenerativas. Marrero Sierra, Solmary . Universidad del Turabo (Puerto Rico), ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2014. 3630921.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: A new health concept has been modified according to iCarrió (2013). The author argues that nowadays the main causes of death are not biological infectious—but those which are derived from the lifestyles and unhealthy behaviors, diseases such as: chronic degenerative diseases (iCarrió, 2002). Officials at the American Psychological Association (APA, 2013) exposed that not all individuals with chronic conditions manage to get better because of the length of the condition and uncertainty of the disease prognostic. These conditions in those patients result in a higher incidence of psychological disorders. Marrero Quevedo and Carballeria Abella (2010) concur that the psychological resources promote health and wellness, allowing the people identify and evaluated themselves to face adversity and thus strengthen their quality of life. The research problem consist to explore and analyze using different studies in different countries and Puerto Rico, the therapeutic influence of optimism on coping strategies and quality of life in patients with chronic degenerative diseases. Method: This study was based on the axioms of Pessimistic—Optimistic Explanatory Style according to Peterson and Seligman (1984). Moreover, it refers to the approaches of Scheier &Carver (1985) about Dispositional Optimism as a way to explain coping responses to negative events that happen to people in their lives. The research answered the design of the meta- analysis process (Glass, McGraw and Smith, 1981). There were selected 22 studies between 1990 and 2013 that were conducted in countries such as the United States, Latin America, Spain and Puerto Rico. Each of these investigations was linked to the use of optimism as a coping strategy for treating patients with chronic degenerative diseases. Results: The results from the overall analysis confirmed that the style of optimistic coping, problem-focused actively is an effective strategy to enhance the quality of life in patients with conditions of chronic degenerative health was the most utilized. As a matter of fact, the results contributed to confirm the principles developed by Peterson and Seligman (1987). At the same time, it contributed to the expansion of Optimistic Explanatory Model Styles. In this respect it is easier for the person to explain difficult situations and life crisis than unstable external causes in time allowing the choice of active coping strategies and declining physical health complications; since it helps them to enjoy a better quality of life. Conclusion: The recommendations are aim to psychology students, psychologists and physical and mental health. These recommendations include the promotion and integration into university curricula, professional trainings as training and develop of more research on the paradigm of positive psychology health-related and the effects of optimism in patients with chronic degenerative diseases in Puerto Rico. Thus, they continue to expand the build of optimism and actively applied in the treatment of patients with chronic degenerative to strengthen and / or enhance their well-being and quality of life conditions.