Few studies have been conducted examining the impact of stressful life events on the course of one’s stuttering. However, research reveals that stressful life events (i.e., divorce, death, or new move) increase the likelihood of the onset of stuttering (Guitar, 2006). This study investigated whether stressful life events in the life of a person who stutters (PWS) have caused and/or maintained stuttering over one’s lifetime. A qualitative research design was utilized to measure the intended outcomes. Methodology included a 30 to 60 minute phone interview and three questionnaires measuring locus of control, the effects of traumatic events and stuttering on one’s quality of life. Results identified three key findings: 1) an increase in negative emotions is due to an increase in stuttering related to a stressful situation, 2) a positive attitude remains despite experienced difficulty with speaking, 3) support groups show benefit for PWS. Directions for future study are suggested for fluency intervention.
","abstract_html":"<p>Few studies have been conducted examining the impact of stressful life events on the course of one’s stuttering. However, research reveals that stressful life events (i.e., divorce, death, or new move) increase the likelihood of the onset of stuttering (Guitar, 2006). This study investigated whether stressful life events in the life of a person who stutters (PWS) have caused and/or maintained stuttering over one’s lifetime. A qualitative research design was utilized to measure the intended outcomes. Methodology included a 30 to 60 minute phone interview and three questionnaires measuring locus of control, the effects of traumatic events and stuttering on one’s quality of life. Results identified three key findings: 1) an increase in negative emotions is due to an increase in stuttering related to a stressful situation, 2) a positive attitude remains despite experienced difficulty with speaking, 3) support groups show benefit for PWS. Directions for future study are suggested for fluency intervention.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Dits, Christine"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts (MA)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Special Education","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Bill Cupples","Lizbeth Stevens","David A. Daly"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2014-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:13Z","subjects":["feelings; anxiety","locus of control","quality of life","stressful life events; traumatic events","stuttering","support groups","Education","Special Education and Teaching"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/812","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Bill Cupples","Lizbeth Stevens","David A. Daly"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Dits, Christine"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2018-03-08T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Special Education"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts (MA)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["feelings; anxiety","locus of control","quality of life","stressful life events; traumatic events","stuttering","support groups","Education","Special Education and Teaching"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/812"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Few studies have been conducted examining the impact of stressful life events on the course of one’s stuttering. However, research reveals that stressful life events (i.e., divorce, death, or new move) increase the likelihood of the onset of stuttering (Guitar, 2006). This study investigated whether stressful life events in the life of a person who stutters (PWS) have caused and/or maintained stuttering over one’s lifetime. A qualitative research design was utilized to measure the intended outcomes. Methodology included a 30 to 60 minute phone interview and three questionnaires measuring locus of control, the effects of traumatic events and stuttering on one’s quality of life. Results identified three key findings: 1) an increase in negative emotions is due to an increase in stuttering related to a stressful situation, 2) a positive attitude remains despite experienced difficulty with speaking, 3) support groups show benefit for PWS. Directions for future study are suggested for fluency intervention.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The relationship between stressful life events and the development and maintenance of stuttering"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Bill Cupples","Lizbeth Stevens","David A. Daly"],"dc:creator":["Dits, Christine"],"dc:date.available":["2018-03-08T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Few studies have been conducted examining the impact of stressful life events on the course of one’s stuttering. However, research reveals that stressful life events (i.e., divorce, death, or new move) increase the likelihood of the onset of stuttering (Guitar, 2006). This study investigated whether stressful life events in the life of a person who stutters (PWS) have caused and/or maintained stuttering over one’s lifetime. A qualitative research design was utilized to measure the intended outcomes. Methodology included a 30 to 60 minute phone interview and three questionnaires measuring locus of control, the effects of traumatic events and stuttering on one’s quality of life. Results identified three key findings: 1) an increase in negative emotions is due to an increase in stuttering related to a stressful situation, 2) a positive attitude remains despite experienced difficulty with speaking, 3) support groups show benefit for PWS. Directions for future study are suggested for fluency intervention.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/812"],"dc:subject":["feelings; anxiety","locus of control","quality of life","stressful life events; traumatic events","stuttering","support groups","Education","Special Education and Teaching"],"dc:title":["The relationship between stressful life events and the development and maintenance of stuttering"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Special Education"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts (MA)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:13Z"}