| Learning Objective #1: Describe the theoretical construct of engulfment, a process by which identity is lost, leaving individuals to consider themselves as only exemplars of a particular illness | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Describe the research findings related to engulfment in three clinical populations (schizophrenia; renal disease & bone marrow transplantation). Through this overview it will be evident that the engulfment framework has the capacity to drive the development of clinically relevant intervention models |
Objective: Engulfment describes the process by which identity is lost, leaving individuals to consider themselves as only exemplars of a particular illness. This paper will present the engulfment framework and research findings from three clinical populations (schizophrenia; renal disease & bone marrow transplantation, BMT).
Design: The results of three cross-sectional studies in schizophrenia; renal disease & BMT populations will be presented.
Population, Sampling, Setting: Schizophrenia: 45 subjects were recruited from the First Episode Schizophrenia Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Renal: 200 subjects were recruited from three University teaching hospitals. BMT: 90 subjects receiving allogenic BMT for a haematologic malignancy were recruited from Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto.
Methods (Concept or Variables Studied Together): All three studies have employed the Modified Engulfment Scale (MES) to gather self-concept data, and have measured related variables, such as symptoms, depression & quality of life enabling comparisons across all three clinical populations.
Findings: Schizophrenia: The findings demonstrate significant correlations between self-concept (TSCS-personal) and the MES and quality of life. Renal: MES scores were positively correlated with course of illness, symptoms, illness intrusiveness and depression. BMT: MES scores correlated in a meaningful way with hopelessness, depression, self-esteem, symptoms, illness intrusiveness and intrusive thoughts related to the illness. The findings will be illustrated with qualitative quotes from all clinical groups.
Conclusions: The collective results indicate that engulfment provides a useful perspective for understanding the impact of chronic illness on the self-concept. Results provide evidence of the reliability and validity for the MES across all three populations.
Implications: The research findings support the theoretical assertion that engulfment is closely affiliated with increased psychosocial and emotional distress, as well as decreased life satisfaction. Chronic illness exerts a profound effect on the experience of the self and thus on psychological adjustment and ultimately quality of life.
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