PERSONAL AND FAMILIAL ADAPTATION OF WOMEN WITH SEVERE PHYSICAL-DISABILITIES - A FURTHER VALIDATION OF THE DOUBLE ABCX MODEL

The Double ABCX model, developed by McCubbin and colleagues, served as a theoretical framework for examining the major variables that contri bute to the psychosocial adaptation of women. Ninety-four women with s evere physical disabilities and 94 healthy women who served as control s completed eight questionnaires dealing with stress, coping resources , and adaptation. The results indicate that a high level of stress and strain and a low level of individual resources contribute to a low pe rsonal and familial adaptation. The predicted causal relationships amo ng the models' variables of stress and adaptation were similar in the two research groups, although the magnitude of these relationships dif fer. The results confirm the applicability of the theoretical model fo r understanding long-term adaptation of women with severe physical dis abilities.