analysis was not carried out, and consequently, the null

hypothesis was not rejected.


 Hypothesis three: There is no relationship between a

 set of psychosocial variables, co-morbidity, and

 survival.

 The intended approach to the testing of hypothesis three

was similar to that for hypothesis two in that it involved a

regression analysis with the survival quotient as the

dependent variable. However, in addition, the disease

variable co-morbidity was to be included as an independent

variable in the equation. This analysis was not carried out

for the same reason noted above. Again, the null hypothesis

was not rejected.

Disease Variables and Psychosocial Status

 Three additional research questions were formulated

during the course of the study to explore how the patient's

psychosocial status might reflect certain disease variables.

These disease variables appeared to reflect "how ill" the

patient was at the time of the interview. Three disease

variables were conceptualized as predictor variables in this

part of the analysis. They included (a) co-morbidity, (b)

the duration of the individual's illness relative to the

interview, and (c) the individual's closeness to death at the

time of the interview. What follows is a description of the

second and third variables and a report of the results of the