Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

William Tetu

Abstract

This study addressed the relationship among longitudinal smoking status, depression, anxiety, health-related quality of life, and psychological and social functioning due to airflow limitations among adult patients with COPD who are enrolled in the COPDGene Cohort Study. The purpose of this research was to address the gap in the literature concerning the relationship among these variables at two time points, 5 years apart. A cognitive approach was used suggesting that as disease progresses and physical ability becomes more limited, then depression and anxiety will increase, and quality of life will decrease. This was a quantitative, longitudinal, nonexperimental study using archived data from the COPDGene cohort. Research Questions 1 through 5 were designed to assess if there was a significant change in anxiety, depression, health-related physical and mental health quality of life and psychological and social functioning due to airflow limitations between the time points in four, separate smoking status groups using paired t tests; Research Question 6 was designed to assess the relationship among these variables using regression. The results showed, (a) significant change in anxiety scores for the Stable Former smokers’; (b) significant change in the PCS of health-related quality of life in the Current to Former smokers’; (c) significant change in psychological and social functioning due to airflow limitations for the Stable Former and the Former to Current smokers’; and (d) anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life statistically significantly predicted social functioning due to airflow limitations. This study will lead to positive social change by bringing awareness to the challenges that COPD patients face.

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