A structural model of stress, psychosocial resources, and symptomatic experience in chronic physical illness

The purpose of this investigation was to test a theory-based structural model describing the relationships among psychosocial resources (strength of psychosocial attributes and basic need satisfaction), perceived stress, disease severity, and symptomatic experience in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One hundred nine subjects (58 males and 51 females) participated in the cross-sectional mail survey. Psychosocial attribute strength was a significant predictor of basic need satisfaction; basic need satisfaction was a significant predictor of perceived stress; and basic need satisfaction, perceived stress, and disease severity were significant predictors of symptomatic experience. The psychosocial attributes variable was a significant predictor of basic need satisfaction for both sexes. For males, basic need satisfaction and stress were significant predictors of symptomatic experience, while psychosocial attributes were not. For females, the psychosocial attributes variable was a significant predictor of symptomatic experience, while basic need satisfaction and stress were not. The findings suggest that psychosocial resources and perceived stress may be important factors in the symptomatic experience of adults with COPD. Males and females seem to differ in the role psychosocial attributes and basic need satisfaction play in the dynamics of the proposed model.