What are the key issues around psychosocial adjustment associated with chronic disease? Critically discuss in relation to chronic disease sufferers and those who participate in their care.
Support your critical analysis and points of view through using sufficient current and relevant references from the literature. Use headings/subheadings as needed to assist in the appropriate structuring of the essay.
Your essay should have:
- a title page with your name, student number, unit code, unit title, assignment number and title, submission date and your word count;
- an Introduction that provides a context and clearly states what you will be writing about;
- headings/subheadings in the body to provide structure and focus;
- a Conclusion that clearly demonstrates how you have addressed the key points;
- APA formatted in-text citations and reference list that clearly acknowledge all of your sources.
Assessment Summary and Mentor-Guided Approach
Summary of Assessment Requirements
This assessment requires students to critically analyse the key psychosocial adjustment issues associated with chronic disease, focusing on how these challenges affect both individuals living with chronic illnesses and those involved in their care (family caregivers, healthcare professionals, and support networks).
Students must:
- Prepare an academic essay that includes:
- A title page including the student’s name, student ID, unit code, unit title, assignment title/number, submission date, and word count.
- An Introduction outlining the context of psychosocial adjustment and clearly stating the purpose and scope of the essay.
- Structured body paragraphs with appropriate headings/subheadings to guide the discussion.
- A Conclusion that summarises key insights and demonstrates how the essay addressed the question.
- APA 7 in-text citations and a reference list using current, credible, and relevant literature.
- Critically discuss key issues such as emotional distress, identity changes, role adjustment, caregiver burden, stigma, coping challenges, and systemic pressures in chronic disease management.
- Provide a balanced analysis that integrates research evidence with theoretical perspectives.
How the Assessment Was Approached by the Academic Mentor
1. Understanding the Task Requirements
The mentor began by ensuring the student fully understood the essay prompt and assessment criteria. This included clarifying the meaning of psychosocial adjustment, identifying relevant stakeholders (patients and carers), and highlighting the need for critical analysis, not just description.
The mentor guided the student through the rubric and emphasised the academic conventions required APA referencing, use of headings, and demonstrating depth of argument supported by scholarly literature.
2. Structuring the Essay
The mentor helped the student develop a clear essay structure:
- Title Page: Ensuring all required fields were included and formatted correctly.
- Introduction: Crafting a paragraph that sets the context of chronic illness, introduces key psychosocial concepts, and outlines the essay’s direction.
- Body Sections: Developing headings and subsections such as:
- Emotional and psychological impact
- Social and relational challenges
- Caregiver burden
- Identity and role adjustment
- Healthcare system factors
- Coping mechanisms and support
Each section was planned to include evidence-based discussion and critical analysis.
- Conclusion: Summarising insights, demonstrating synthesis of ideas, and linking back to the essay question.
3. Locating and Integrating Evidence
The mentor showed the student how to identify current, peer-reviewed literature, particularly research published within the last 10 years on chronic disease experiences, patient wellbeing, caregiver stress, self-management, and psychosocial adaptation models.
The student was guided on how to:
- Use in-text citations correctly
- Integrate evidence rather than simply listing findings
- Contrast differing viewpoints for critical depth
- Reference theoretical frameworks such as the biopsychosocial model or stages of adjustment
4. Developing Critical Discussion
The mentor reinforced the importance of analysis by encouraging the student to:
- Identify underlying causes of psychosocial distress
- Compare patient and caregiver experiences
- Examine how healthcare systems influence adjustment
- Discuss the implications for practice and support interventions
The student was coached to avoid purely descriptive writing and instead provide evaluative commentary grounded in evidence.
5. Writing the Conclusion and Reference List
The mentor guided the student to craft a conclusion that synthesised not repeated the arguments and clearly demonstrated how the essay addressed the central question.
The reference list was checked for correct APA 7 formatting, alphabetical order, accurate DOIs/URLs, and consistency.
Final Outcome and Learning Objectives Achieved
Through the structured support provided by the academic mentor, the student produced a well-organised, critically informed essay that:
- Addressed the psychosocial adjustment challenges faced by chronic disease sufferers
- Analysed the experiences of caregivers and healthcare partners
- Demonstrated the ability to integrate theory, evidence, and critical thinking
- Used APA 7 referencing accurately and consistently
- Reflected an understanding of ethical, social, and emotional dimensions of chronic illness
- Showed improved academic writing, reasoning, and analytical skills
The assessment helped the student meet key learning objectives such as:
- Applying biopsychosocial perspectives to chronic disease contexts
- Understanding relational and systemic impacts of illness
- Using academic literature effectively to support critical evaluation
- Structuring and presenting arguments in a formal academic format
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