Building a programme of research from the Roy Adaptation Model of Nursing.

This paper describes a series of methodological and substantive studies derived from the Roy Adaptation Model of Nursing. The research encompassed development of an instrument to measure functional status after childbirth and retrospective and longitudinal studies of variables associated with functional status during the postpartum period. The conceptual model proved to be a useful guide for the design and conduct of these studies as well as ongoing investigations of functional status during pregnancy and following diagnosis of breast cancer. Findings from completed studies support the credibility of Roy's conceptual model.