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Title

FINANCIAL BURDEN AND COPING IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS

Creator

Yap, Bonnie Joyce

Date

2020

Description

In order to contribute to knowledge about how treatment impacts the financial well-being of patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer, this...
Show moreIn order to contribute to knowledge about how treatment impacts the financial well-being of patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer, this study examined the relationship between patient characteristics, financial burden, and financial coping over the treatment period among patients receiving treatment for locally advanced head and neck cancer at a major midwestern medical center. A sample of 65 participants completed self-report questionnaires on out-of-pocket costs, use of financial coping strategies, healthcare utilization, and personal and medical characteristics. Participant disease-specific information was obtained from their medical charts. Age, illness intrusiveness, and distance significantly predicted use of lifestyle-altering financial coping strategies. In addition, human papillomavirus (HPV) status significantly predicted use of care-altering financial coping strategies. Results of hierarchical linear regression analyses found significant main effects of financial burden, loneliness, and social support as predictors of the use of financial coping strategies. Moderation effects of loneliness and social support were not found. Trajectories of out-of-pocket costs indicated that costs are highest at the beginning of treatment and decrease over time. The results highlight the non-disease characteristics of patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer that may make them more vulnerable to financial distress and financial burden. Future studies with larger and more representative sample sizes could further add to information about the impact of cancer treatment on patient financial wellbeing.
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Title

CONSTRUCT AND MEASUREMENT EQUIVALENCE ACROSS GENDER OF THE DYADIC ADJUSTMENT SCALE

Creator

Yap, Bonnie Joyce

Date

2012-10-16, 2012-12

Description

The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) is the most widely used measure of dyadic adjustment for individuals in committed relationships (Spanier,...
Show moreThe Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) is the most widely used measure of dyadic adjustment for individuals in committed relationships (Spanier, 1976). However, little research has focused on whether DAS measures the construct of dyadic adjustment in a way that is equivalent and unbiased across genders. The current study utilized matched moderated regression (MMR) to assess each item of the DAS to detect if gender differences in the relationships between item responses and the construct being measured are due to (a) factors other than the construct and (b) differences in the construct. Archival data were acquired from a previously published study (Eddy, Heyman, & Weiss, 1991). The sample was very large (N =3322) so it was divided into two replication groups in such a way that no couples were included in the same group. A number of statistically significant differences were found on items in both replication samples; however: (1) many of these items were not consistent across replicate groups; (2) Even when there was a consistent gender difference in both replication groups, the magnitude was small; (3) When all of the differences were summed across items, bias in total scale score was minimal because the direction of the biases differed across items and so cancelled out and; (4) A small gender difference may exist in preferences for demonstrations of affection. Findings suggest that there are not substantial gender bias or scale equivalence problems with the DAS. The construct of dyadic adjustment was similar in men and women. These findings are congruent results from the recent study of South and Kruger (2009) on gender differences in the factor structure on the DAS and lend support to the valid use of the DAS in studies of dyadic adjustment.
M.S. in Psychology, December 2012
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