Self-Management Across the Lifespan

Our research is about empowering people to take charge of their health and wellness at all stages of life.

Six in 10 U.S. adults live with at least one chronic disease – nearly half live with two or more. Almost one out of every four U.S. children and adolescents are afflicted by a chronic condition.

The overall well-being of people across the nation is at risk as more and more children, adolescents, and adults develop chronic conditions, due in large part to shared lifestyle choices, the environment, and a growing aging population.

Self-management interventions help those with chronic conditions better understand, cope with, and manage their condition and associated symptoms. These strategies often prevent the condition from becoming worse.

Some interventions, such as changes to diet and exercise, may even prevent individuals from developing additional chronic illnesses, especially important as chronically ill children grow into adulthood. Being an active participant in one's own health and well-being leads to better long-term outcomes and less strain on the healthcare system.

Kent State nurse researchers seek to understand positive and negative influences for chronic condition prevention and management, as well as develop instruments and interventions to help those who succumb to those conditions.

Affiliated Faculty

• Mary K. Anthony, Ph.D., RN
  Focus: Effects of shift rotations on nurses’ physical activity, health biomarkers, and performance.
• Jo A. Dowell, Ph.D., APRN, CNP, PNP, FNP-BC
  Focus: Asthma self-management from the child’s perspective.
• Ya-Fen Wang, Ph.D., RN
  Focus: How resourcefulness, which includes cognitive-behavioral self-control skills, is related to stress, overeating styles, and activity in underserved populations.

Recent Publications & Presentations

Kanan, S., Shahrour, G., Broome, B., Bernert, D., Alibrahim, M., & Hansen, D. (2021). Predicting intentions to physical activity in Jordanian patients with coronary artery disease: Impact of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. British Journal of Cardiac Nursing, 16(1). Doi.10.12968/bjca.2020.0068

Fisher-Grace, K., Turk, M. T., Anthony, M. K., & Chia, L. R. (2020). Use of personal health records to support diabetes self-management: An integrative review. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing. [Epub ahead of print] doi.10.1097/CIN.0000000000000682

Mori, C., Sheehan, D., Heifner Graor, C., & Petrinec, A. (2020). A scoping review of the phenomenon of osteoporosis in post bariatric surgical patients. International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing, 40, 100835. doi.10.1016/j.iijotn.2020.100835

Hebeshy, M., Hansen, D. M., Broome, B., Abdou, S. A., Murrock, C., & Bernert, D. (2020). Development of the nurses’ intention to use Deep Vein Thrombosis Preventive Measures Questionnaire. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 28(3), E216-E232. doi.10.1891/JNM-D-19-00011

Petrinec, A., Crowe, M., Flanagan, K., & Baker, J. (2020). Health and daily functioning of older women religious. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 67, 1866-1870. doi.10.1111/jgs.15984

Wang, Y., Ciesla, J. A., Chuang, H., Chou, H., & Zauszniewski, J. A. (2020, September). Relationship between optimism and restrained eating: The role of resourcefulness. Poster presented at the 2020 Taiwan International Nursing Conference endorsed by the International Council of Nurses, Taipei, Taiwan.

Dowell, J., Arcoleo, K., Ruiz, Z., & Halula, R. (2019). Children with asthma and communication with healthcare provider: Instrument development. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 50, 81-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2019.11.003 

Kolke, S. M., Kuhlenschmidt, M., Bauer, E., Anthony, M. K., Gittleman, H., Caimi, P. F., & Mazanec, S. R (2019). Factors influencing patients’ intention to perform physical activity during hematopoietic cell transplantation. Oncology Nursing Forum, 46(6), 746-756. doi:10.1188/19.ONF.746-756

Hebeshy, M., Hansen, D., Broome, B., Bernert, D., Murrock, C. J., Abo Abdou, S. (in press). Development of the nurses’ intention to use deep vein thrombosis preventive measures questionnaire. Journal of Nursing Measurement.

Saunders, T. (2019). Type 2 diabetes self-management barriers in older adults: An integrative review of the qualitative literature. Journal of Gerontological Nursing. 45(3), 43-54. doi:10.3928/00989134-20190211-05

Wang, Y., Ha, S., & Zauszniewski, J. A. (2018, April). Associations among resourcefulness, overeating, and physical activity in children: Preliminary findings. Paper presented at the 42nd Annual Research Conference of the Midwest Nursing Research Society, Cleveland, OH.

Ha, S., Wang, Y., & Zauszniewski, J. A. (2018, April). Accelerometer measurement to assess physical activity in children: Feasibility and preliminary results. Poster presented at the 42nd Annual Research Conference of the Midwest Nursing Research Society, Cleveland, OH.