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Learned helplessness.

J LeSage, L W Slimmer, M Lopez

Journal of Gerontological Nursing

|May 1, 1989

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Learned helplessness in residents is linked to depression and negative attributional styles, suggesting it can be maladaptive. While residents generally felt in control, nurses perceived helplessness differently.

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Area of Science:

Gerontology
Psychology
Healthcare Management

Background:

Learned helplessness (LH) is a psychological state where individuals feel unable to influence events.
Understanding LH in long-term care residents is crucial for improving well-being and care.
Discrepancies in perception between nurses and residents regarding control and helplessness warrant investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the concept of learned helplessness as described by nurses.
To examine the relationship between learned helplessness, attributional style, and depressive symptoms in residents.
To assess residents' perceived control over their treatment and daily lives.

Main Methods:

Qualitative descriptions of learned helplessness by nurses.

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Quantitative analysis correlating the Multidimensional Depression Inventory (MDI) learned helplessness subscale with the Beck Depression Inventory.

Assessment of attributional styles for negative events and perceived control.

Main Results:

Nurses defined learned helplessness narrowly, focusing on residents' inaction in capable activities.
A significant correlation was found between learned helplessness (MDI) and depression (BDI), indicating its dysfunctional nature.
Personal, stable, and global attributions for negative events were strongly associated with higher LH scores and depressive symptoms.
Residents reported general satisfaction with their control, except concerning meals and privacy.

Conclusions:

Learned helplessness in long-term care settings is associated with negative attributional patterns and depressive symptoms.
The findings highlight a potential disconnect in understanding learned helplessness between care providers and residents.
Interventions targeting attributional retraining may help mitigate learned helplessness and improve resident mental health.