Theoretical Framework

Roy’s Adaptation Model, by Sister Callista Roy, is a conceptual nursing model that views humans as biopsychosocial adaptive systems who cope with environmental change through the process of adaptation (Roy & Andrews, 1999; Roy & Zhan, 2006; Tomey & Alligood, 2006). The process of adaptation may be either an adaptive (positive) or an ineffective (negative) response and adaptation occurs when the person responds positively to environmental changes (Roy, 1984). The person receives stimuli from both the self and the environment and the adaptive level is determined by the combined effect of the focal, residual and contextual stimuli (Roy, 1984). Focal stimulus is the “internal or external stimulus most immediately confronting the human system”; contextual stimulus “are all other stimuli present in the situation that contribute to the effect of the focal stimulus”; and residual stimulus “are environmental factors within or without the human system with effects in the current situation that are unclear” (Roy & Andrews, 1999).

There are two interrelated subsystems in Roy’s model. The primary or control processes consist of the coping mechanisms or the regulator and cognator. The regulator coping subsystem provides coping mechanisms by way of physiological adaptive modes involving automatic responses through the neural, chemical and endocrine systems (Andrews & Roy, 1991). The cognator coping subsystem provides coping mechanisms by way of four cognitive-emotive channels which are processing, learning, judgment and emotion (Andrews & Roy, 1991). The secondary or effector subsystem consist of four adaptive modes: physiologic/physical needs, self-concept/group identity, role function, and interdependence (Roy & Andrews, 1999). In other words...

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