Improving psychological adjustment to amputation through strategic self-presentation

Abstract

Amputation represents an enormous challenge to the individual in terms of adjustment and coping. There are significant implications for psychological well being, as well as physical adjustments to come to terms with. The first paper outlines the theoretical and empirical literature relating to the understanding of disability and associated adjustment and coping processes. Important factors pertaining to these processes are discussed, such as self-identity (self-esteem and self-efficacy in particular) and mental appraisals of the event. Conclusions are made regarding the complex nature of adjustment and coping processes, and the relative lack of research on amputation and more specifically on interventions to facilitate the adjustment process.

The second paper describes a study that investigated the efficacy of an intervention with amputees designed to facilitate adjustment. Strategic self-presentation was proposed as an approach intervention given the existing understanding of disability and the important factors involved in adaptive adjustment to amputation. A comparison between an intervention group and control group was made using various measures of adjustment. The hypothesised intervention effect was not supported for the majority of adjustment measures, although an interesting significant effect was demonstrated with the coping repertoire. The most likely conclusion about results is that the intervention failed to yield improved adjustment due to the small sample size, the atypical sample characteristics, and the lack of strength of the intervention. Suggestions for further research were provided, including replication of the study with a larger sample.

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