The impact of internal and external resources on functional outcomes in chronic illness

This study's purpose was to determine if internal and/or external resources could deter negative consequences of physiologic stress in chronic illness. Resource theory was used to test relationships over time among stress (physiologic), distress (functional outcome), and resources (internal-well-being; external-social network). A secondary analysis was done on data from 112 persons with end stage renal disease, collected yearly over 3 years. Physiologic stressors were strongly associated with higher levels of physical dysfunction. Resources were generally unable to reduce deleterious effects of physiologic stress on functional outcomes; functional outcomes were largely determined by preexisting levels of function.