Abstract

Transitioning to adulthood is not without challenges. The move away from family influence towards independence and self-determination is filled with uncertainty. Increased challenges and vulnerabilities in transitioning are evident among emerging adults with disabilities because they face additional challenges related to their disability over and above what others of this developmental stage experience.

The purpose of this mixed methods convergent parallel study was to understand resilience in a select group of emerging adults with disabilities, who have been recognized for their accomplishments, as they are transitioning to adulthood. Quantitative instruments were used to measure the relationship among resilience, physical health, mental health, satisfaction with life, future orientation, and social support resources, while a qualitative focus group and individual interviews further explored the central phenomenon of resilience. Using a positive psychological approach, this study revealed transitioning goals and values, challenges encountered while transitioning, and key attributes of resilience that have aided in transitioning. Findings conclude that resilience mitigates adversity and facilitates transitioning, the capacity for resilience is well within reach, and resilience comes from a variety of individual and environmental attributes.

Nurses care for individuals and are uniquely present to intervene throughout all stages of the transitioning process. Knowing which resilient attributes are most effective in facilitating transitioning would be especially useful in the development of preventative holistic patient-centered nursing interventions. The research and practice implications of this study may suggest that resilience is a viable concept for the development of strength-based, patient-centered nursing interventions that facilitate transitioning.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 3702558; ProQuest document ID: 1686537388. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Jennifer Emilie Mannino, PhD, RN

Sigma Membership

Epsilon Kappa

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Descriptive/Correlational

Research Approach

Mixed/Multi Method Research

Keywords:

Resilient Attributes, Transitioning to Adulthood, Individuals with Disabilities, HSC Foundation

Advisors

Feeg, Veronica D.||Vitale, Susan Ann||Betz, Cecily

Degree

PhD

Degree Grantor

Molloy College

Degree Year

2014

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2022-02-24

Full Text of Presentation

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