Margot Knapp

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

1992

Thesis Director

William G. Kirk

Abstract

The literature has documented the traumatic effect of ostomy surgery. Individuals who need to integrate a new body image must go through a period of psychosocial adjustment. Several studies have been done to analyze components of adjustment and to ascertain variables which might affect adjustment. Psychosocial adjustment to ostomy surgery is a new field of study and previous research has been limited in scope.

The current study sought primarily to identify both demographic and categorical variables predictive of a broad range of adjustment factors, and by using a comprehensive sample. Independent variables included age, level of education, precipitating illness, type of ostomy, length of time since surgery, gender, and marital status. A second objective of this study was to replicate factor analyses performed on the Ostomy Adjustment Scale.

The Ostomy Adjustment Scale and a personal data form were administered to 99 members of the United Ostomy Association; 98 were analyzed. Participants had colostomies, ileostomies, or urostomies. The sample was about equally divided with regard to gender, marital status, and precipitating illness. Length of time since surgery ranged from 6 months to 33 years.

As expected, age and level of education were not significantly related to adjustment. Length of time since surgery, precipitating illness, and marital status were statistically significant. Type of ostomy and gender were marginally significant. Results of the factor analysis were ambiguous. Only one of five factors was consistent with earlier findings. Limitations of this study and suggestions for future research were discussed.

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