SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Coping”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

The moderating effect of demographic variables on coping effectiveness.

In spite of the theoretical recognition regarding the role of coping as a moderator, empirical findings indicate that it has only a modest effect as such. This study was designed, therefore, to examine the moderating effect of demographic variables (DV) on coping effectiveness, i.e. active cognitive coping, avoidance coping and active behavioural coping. The study sample was comprised of 12 male and 65 female patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were treated in three outpatient clinics of large hospitals in Israel. Findings suggest that demographic variables do play an important, and somewhat surprising, role in the effectiveness of coping strategies to temper psychological distress. Of the various demographic variables studied, marital status was found to have a significant effect on active cognitive coping and avoidance coping, and adherence to a religious belief system was found to have a significant effect on avoidance coping. The implications of the results for coping effectiveness are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2001

Spiritual coping strategies: a review of the nursing research literature.

AIMS OF THE PAPER: This paper reviews some of the limited nursing research-based literature, orientated towards the use of spiritual coping strategies in illness. This review aims at identifying those spiritual coping strategies used by the believers and nonbelievers followed by implications for holistic nursing care. LITERATURE SEARCH: The CINAHL and MEDLINE CD Rom databases were searched, identifying literature published from 1975 onwards which amounted to 187 articles. The majority of the literature traced were found anecdotal with only few studies investigating directly spiritual coping strategies. Following scrutiny of the available articles, only five research studies explored directly the spiritual coping strategies used in various illness, four of which were conducted in USA and one in UK. Because of the small scale research studies, generalization of the findings of this review is limited to the samples used. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND: Research suggests that spiritual coping strategies, involving relationship with self, others, Ultimate other/God or nature were found to help individuals to cope with their ailments. This may be because of finding meaning, purpose and hope, which may nurture individuals in their suffering. Spirituality is oftenly referred by literature as being synonymous with religiosity. Thus the use of spiritual coping strategies is restricted to individuals who hold religious beliefs. However, the definition of spirituality indicates that this concept is broader than religiosity. The theories on stress-coping (Folkman & Lazarus 1984) and the numinous experience (Otto 1950) outline the rationale for the use of these strategies which are applicable to both the believers and nonbelievers. IMPLICATIONS: This review suggests that the onset of illness may render the individual, being a believer or nonbeliever to realize the lack of control over his/her life. However the use of spiritual coping strategies may enhance self-empowerment, leading to finding meaning and purpose in illness. This implies that holistic care incorporates facilitation of various spiritual coping strategies to safeguard the wholeness and integrity of the patients.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2003

The mental health of women with suspected breast cancer: the relationship between social support, anxiety, coping and defence in maintaining mental health.

Relationships between anxiety, social support, coping, and defence, in connection to mental health, were studied among patients with suspected breast cancer, awaiting diagnosis. Data were collected by questionnaires from 117 women, 25-76 years of age (mean: 53.6 years) who had undergone breast biopsy. Instruments used were: the Social Provisions Scale (SPS); the state scale of State-Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI); and CODE [based on the Utrecht Coping List (UCL) and Defence Mechanisms Inventory (DMI)]. The results showed that patients reported elevated levels of anxiety and high levels of social support. Yet, anxiety was strongest and negatively related to 'instrumental coping', followed by 'cognitive defence'. 'Defensive hostility' was unrelated to anxiety. Unexpectedly, 'emotion-focused coping' and social provisions were unrelated to anxiety. Social provisions were somewhat related to 'instrumental coping', but sparsely related to 'emotion-focused coping', unrelated to 'cognitive defence' and partly negatively related to 'defensive hostility'. Hence, social support and 'emotion-focused coping' did not in themselves repress anxiety. 'Instrumental coping' did, even in a situation where nothing could be done. Social support is suggested to be the product of an 'instrumental coping style', not necessarily contributing to it. Clinical consequences for professional information and support to patients with different coping styles are suggested.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2001

Predictors of coping efficacy, negative moods and post-traumatic stress syndrome following major trauma.

The purpose of the study was to test relationships among injury appraisals, coping, social support and outcomes of coping efficacy, mood states and post-traumatic stress syndrome. A purposive sample of 152 hospitalized patients a week following major trauma was recruited from two trauma centres. The measures included the modified Ways of Coping Scale; the brief Social Support Questionnaire; the brief Profile of Mood State; the Impact of Event Scale; and selected demographic and injury related variables. Data were analyzed by multivariate statistics. The results indicated that perceived controllability, satisfaction with social support, wishful-thinking coping and problem-focused coping were the significant predictors for coping efficacy; perceived stressfulness, problem-focused coping and wishful thinking explained a significant amount of variance in mood states; avoidance coping and wishful-thinking coping were predictors for post-traumatic stress syndrome. The moderating effects of emotion-focused coping at high and medium levels were identified.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2001

Contributions of pain-related adjustment and perceptions of control to coping strategy use among cervical sprain patients.

Coping is a cyclical process in which an individual evaluates stressful events, chooses and implements coping strategies, re-evaluates the outcome of the coping effort and modifies the strategy if necessary. The intent of the present study was to evaluate the extent to which pain-related adjustment (i.e. pain severity, pain interference, negative affect) and perceptions of control are associated with the implementation of particular coping strategies. Participants were 136 patients assessed at an interdisciplinary pain clinic for cervical sprain injuries. As part of a routine assessment, participants completed a questionnaire package regarding background, pain severity, pain interference, negative affect, perceived control and use of particular coping strategies. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that pain interference, after controlling for all other variables, was associated with greater use of less physically demanding strategies (i.e. resting, guarding, asking for assistance, seeking social support and coping self-statements). Negative affect, on the other hand, after controlling for other variables, was associated with reduced use of task persistence. Finally, perceived control, independent of other variables, was associated with greater use of cognitive and social coping strategies (i.e. asking for assistance, seeking social support and coping self-statements). The results of the study shed light on the complex relationship between use of particular coping strategies and situational variables of pain-related adjustment and perceived control. Implications for clinicians who assist patients via implementation or modification of particular coping techniques are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2001

Living with rheumatoid arthritis: the role of daily spirituality and daily religious and spiritual coping.

The objective of this preliminary study was to evaluate more fully the role of daily spiritual experiences and daily religious/spiritual coping in the experience of individuals with pain due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Thirty-five individuals with RA were asked to keep a structured daily diary for 30 consecutive days. The diary included standardized measures designed to assess spiritual experiences, religious and spiritual pain coping, salience of religion in coping, religious/spiritual coping efficacy, pain, mood, and perceived social support. The participants in this study reported having spiritual experiences, such as feeling touched by the beauty of creation or feeling a desire to be closer or in union with God, on a relatively frequent basis. These participants also reported using positive religious and spiritual coping strategies much more frequently than negative religious and spiritual coping strategies. Although most of the variance in these measures was due to differences between persons, each measure also displayed a significant variability in scores from day to day. Indeed, there was just as much (or more) variability in these measures over time as there was variability in pain. Individuals who reported frequent daily spiritual experiences had higher levels of positive mood, lower levels of daily negative mood, and higher levels of each of the social support domains. Individuals who reported that religion was very salient in their coping with pain reported much higher levels of instrumental, emotional, arthritis-related, and general social support. Coping efficacy was significantly related to pain, mood, and social support in that on days that participants rated their ability to control pain and decrease pain using spiritual/religious coping methods as high, they were much less likely to have joint pain and negative mood and much more likely to have positive mood and higher levels of general social support. Taken together, these results suggest that daily spiritual experiences and daily religious/spiritual coping variables are important in understanding the experience of persons who have RA. They also suggest that newly developed daily diary methods may provide a useful methodology for studying religious and spiritual dimensions of living with arthritis.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2007

Coping in sport: A systematic review.

The aim of this paper was to systematically review the literature on coping in sport, examining evidence for both the trait and process perspectives, the types of coping strategies used by athletes, gender differences, age-related differences, and coping effectiveness. A comprehensive literature search of SPORTdiscus, PsychLIT, and PsychINFO in November 2004 yielded 64 studies spanning 16 years (1988 - 2004). The results indicated that athletes use a variety of coping strategies. Forty-six papers supported or adopted the process perspective (Lazarus, 1999; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). There were also gender and age-related differences. Evidence was found to support three of the different models of coping effectiveness (goodness-of-fit approach, choice of coping strategy, and automacity). Based on this evidence, future research should address some of the methodological and measurement limitations of the sport psychology coping literature. In particular, prospective research designs that minimize the time delay between recall and the stressful experience are required to assess how coping changes over time. More attention to developmental issues to guide the formulation of sport-specific models to enhance our theoretical understanding is also required. Finally, coping effectiveness should be examined both in the short and long term, as a greater understanding of coping effectiveness has the potential to make a significant impact on applied practice.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2004

Parental coping following childhood acquired brain injury.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To examine parental coping following an acquired brain injury of their child, the relationship between maternal and paternal coping, and the extent to which social support and family environment affect parental coping. RESEARCH DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was used. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Parents (n = 30) of children with acquired brain injury provided relevant demographic data and completed questionnaires investigating coping, social support and perceptions of family environment. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Perception-focused coping strategies were used most often by parents. Mothers had a more extensive repertoire than fathers, and the relationship between maternal and paternal coping appeared to be complementary. Relationships were found between emotion-focused coping and instrumental support (r = 0.39) and perception-focused coping and family cohesion (r = 0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Recognizing parental coping styles, enhancing the development of positive strategies, and underscoring the importance of social support and the family environment will assist parents to cope positively with their child's acquired brain injury.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2000

Long-term coping in childhood cancer survivors: influence of illness, treatment and demographic background factors.

In 30 survivors of childhood cancer, long-term psychological coping with experience of disease and treatment was studied in relation to factors associated with illness, treatment and demographic background. Coping was assessed in a prior study, in which three groups of varying levels of coping where delineated (good, 40%; intermediate, 33%; poor, 27%, coping). The present study showed that poor individual coping was related to diagnosis, a shorter time of continuous complete remission, more severe illness and treatment impairments, and lower scores on a test of intellectual abilities. In addition, a longer time of treatment tended to be followed by poorer coping. However, no association was found for gender, parents' occupational level, age at illness onset, neuro-cranial irradiation, irradiation dose (total) or age at investigation. A tentative path-analysis was executed, displaying a model for the relationships between medical and demographic background variables, and for their influence on coping. It was concluded that a complex of factors--associated particularly with severity of disease and treatment--appears to be related to, and affects, coping with the illness experience. Patients' long-term coping with their illness trauma is most likely determined by multiple factors. Intellectual capabilities are related to coping.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1990

A comparison of coping strategies in chronic pain patients in different age groups.

This study examined the effects of age on the frequency of use and perceived effectiveness of coping strategies in patients having chronic pain. Subjects were chronic pain patients in four age groups (young, middle, older, and geriatric). All subjects completed the Coping Strategies Questionnaire, which measures the use and perceived effectiveness of a variety of cognitive and behavioral coping strategies in controlling and decreasing pain. Subjects also completed measures of pain, depression, and psychological distress. Data analysis revealed that there were no significant age differences in either the use or perceived effectiveness of pain coping strategies. Correlational analyses based on data combined from the different age groups suggested that, while certain pain coping strategies appear to be adaptive (e.g., coping self-statements), other coping strategies appear to be maladaptive (e.g., catastrophizing, diverting attention, increasing behavioral activities). Patients who rated their ability to decrease pain as relatively high, reported lower levels of depression and pain. These findings are consistent with a contextual perspective on coping which postulates that few, if any, age differences in coping are to be expected when individuals are coping with a similar life event.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1991

Differences between high and low coping children and between parent and staff behaviors during painful medical procedures.

Coded behaviors of pediatric oncology patients undergoing bone marrow aspirations and lumbar punctures, parents, and medical staff using the Child-Adult Medical Procedure Interaction Scale. Children were grouped into high and low coping groups for three analyses. Results indicated that adults with the high coping children engaged in more coping-promoting behaviors than adults with the low coping children. Further, high coping children were more likely to respond with coping to coping-promoting prompts. However, both groups of children were more likely to respond by coping following coping-promoting antecedents than following distress-promoting or adult neutral antecedents. Both groups were more likely to respond with distress following distress-promoting antecedents. When interacting with children, staff engaged in a higher proportions of giving control to the child and apologies than did parents. Also, children were more likely to display coping than distress following staff's and parents' nonprocedural talk (distraction).

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1995

Family influences on coping processes in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease.

Examined the contribution of parenting and family variables to the general coping processes of 39 children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD). In home interviews, parents reported on their child's health history, the coping suggestions they make to their children, their own coping strategies, and family cohesion. Children rated their general coping strategies and level of hope. Partial support was obtained for each of the three models of family influences tested in this study. After accounting for the effects of age, gender, family structure, and type of SCD, children's hope was positively associated with active coping suggestions by parents. Children's active coping was associated with a cohesive family environment, and avoidance coping was predicted by less parental use of restructuring coping, and greater parental use of active coping strategies. Taken together, this study provides evidence for the influence of parental coaching and modeling and the family environment on coping processes in children with SCD.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1997

Coping with negative symptoms of schizophrenia: patient and family perspectives.

An exploratory study was conducted of the strategies that schizophrenia patients and their relatives employ to cope with negative symptoms. Coping strategies and their perceived efficacy were elicited in semistructured interviews conducted separately with patients and relatives. Coping responses were coded according to the following dimensions: behavioral-cognitive, social-nonsocial, and problem focused-emotion focused. Overall, the number of coping strategies was related to perceived coping efficacy for both patients and relatives, regardless of the type of strategy. Perceived coping efficacy tended to be highest for apathy; intermediate for alogia, anhedonia, and inattention; and lowest for blunting. Relatives with more knowledge about schizophrenia used more coping strategies and reported higher levels of coping efficacy. Patient rejection by relatives and distress (either patient or relative) tended to not be related to coping strategies. The findings suggest that patients and relatives use a wide variety of strategies to cope with negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Future clinical work and research need to evaluate whether families may benefit from psychoeducational approaches to teaching them how to better manage negative symptoms.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2000

Stress coping strategy in Japanese patients with eating disorders: relationship with bulimic and impulsive behaviors.

Although maladaptive coping strategies in eating disorder patients have been reported, the relationship between impulsivity and coping strategy has not previously been studied. Subjects consisted of 43 patients with anorexia nervosa restricting type (AN-R), 42 patients with anorexia nervosa binge eating/purging type (AN-BP), 71 patients with bulimia nervosa purging type (BN), and 97 controls. The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations was used to evaluate coping strategies. Only AN-BP patients had a significantly lower task oriented-coping score than controls, and AN-R and BN patient groups used significantly less social diversion-avoidance coping strategies than controls. Emotion-oriented coping scores of AN-BP and BN patients were significantly higher than those of controls. In addition, impulsive BN patients had significantly higher emotional coping scores than less impulsive BN patients. These results suggest that maladaptive coping strategies may be a perpetuating factor even for impulsive patients and emphasizing a change in maladaptive coping strategies may be a useful treatment strategy even for highly impulsive patients.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Coping and psychosocial adaptation: longitudinal effects over time and stages in breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between coping and psychosocial adaptation in cancer patients over time and across distinct clinical events. METHODS: In a prospective longitudinal study 74 patients with breast cancer were observed for 3 to 5 years at 3- to 6-month intervals. A total of 684 interviews were conducted at different observation points. Three rating scales were used to assess coping and adjustment: first, the Bernese Coping Modes, an observer rating scale devised to elicit 26 coping modes aggregated in this paper as the five Basic Coping Strategies of support, self-control, denial, diverting, and negative-emotional; second, an observer rating scale to ascertain psychosocial adaptation; and third, a self-rating scale as a measure of either emotional distress or well-being. RESULTS: a) When aggregated in illness stages, coping and distress data on the observed clinical time points showed greater variability than time measures alone (analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures p < .001). b) A significant relationship between the Basic Coping Strategies and psychosocial adaptation was demonstrated using discriminant and correlational analysis. Furthermore, in stage-dependent Pearson r correlations (p < .05 to .001), a clear-cut relationship was found for hospitalization, chemotherapy, and rehabilitation, but not for convalescence and metastasis. c) A positive relationship was demonstrated between psychosocial adaptation and strategies that can be generally categorized as good forms of coping such as support and self-control, and, to a lesser degree, diverting and denial. Conversely, poor coping exerted a negative effect on almost all illness stages and on most criteria of adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: In long-term studies on psychosocial adaptation and coping, stage-related measures should be preferred to time measures alone. The implications of different strategies for the psychological treatment of cancer patients are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2005

Coping with a possible breast cancer diagnosis: demographic factors and social support.

AIM: This paper reports a study examining the relationships between demographic characteristics, social support, anxiety, coping and defence among women with possible breast cancer. BACKGROUND: Awaiting a possible breast cancer diagnosis is an anxiety-provoking situation that demands coping. Social support and demographic characteristics have been reported to influence coping and well-being, but the interconnection is insufficiently understood. DESIGN: A survey design was used, and self-administrated questionnaires were returned by a convenience sample of 117 women in Norway who had undergone breast biopsy. The data were collected from September 1998 to February 2000. INSTRUMENTS: The instruments consisted of: the Social Provisions Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Scale, Utrecht Coping List and Defence Mechanisms Inventory. In addition, data on age, level of education, employment, marital status, and household status were collected. RESULTS: Social support was positively related to instrumental-oriented coping and emotion-focused coping, unrelated to cognitive defence and defensive hostility. Educational level was positively related to instrumental-oriented coping. Educational level, employment and marital status were negatively related to cognitive defence. Educational level was the most important contributor to social support. Attachment and education were the most important contributors to instrumental-oriented coping, with education as the strongest predictor. CONCLUSION: Better coping was linked primarily to education, and secondly to attachment. Unemployment, low level of education and single/divorced/widowed status were related to greater use of cognitive defence. Women who used a defensive hostile style tended to receive poor social support. Nurses need to be aware of the influence of demographic characteristics on social support, coping and defence and to identify poor copers, as these patients are most in need of professional support.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2005

Coping, social support and quality of life over time after myocardial infarction.

AIM: This paper describes gender differences in perceived coping, social support and quality of life 1, 4 and 12 months after myocardial infarction. BACKGROUND: There is a shortage of studies with a longitudinal research design investigating coping, social support and quality of life in women and men after myocardial infarction. METHODS: A longitudinal, descriptive and comparative design was used for the study, which included 74 women and 97 men. At 12 months, 60 women and 88 men remained. Data were collected using the Jalowiec Coping Scale, a social support questionnaire, the SF-36 Health Survey (health-related quality of life) and the Quality of Life Index-Cardiac version (quality of life). The data were collected during the period 1999-2001. RESULTS: No statistically significant changes over time in coping assessments emerged in the study group, except for fatalistic coping, which diminished over time in men. Women used more evasive coping than men at 4 and 12 months. The perceived efficiency in coping with physical aspects of the heart disease increased. More women than men perceived available support from grandchildren and staff of the church. Health-related quality of life increased in women and men in physical functioning, role-physical, vitality, social functioning, and role-emotional scales. Moreover, an improvement in the mental health scale was evident in women and a reduction in pain in men. No statistically significant gender differences were found for quality of life at any point in time. CONCLUSIONS: The findings can be used to inform caregivers that optimistic, self-reliant and confrontational coping were the most frequently used by both women and men over the first year after myocardial infarction, and that confrontational coping has been shown to have positive outcomes in the longer term. Nurses should tell women about the importance of seeking prompt treatment and discuss health problems with caregivers and significant others. Care planning should include family members and significant others so that they can support and encourage patients to cope with problems in daily life.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2005

Cognitive coping with the threat of rape: vigilance and cognitive avoidance.

Individual differences in women's avoidant and vigilant style in coping with the threat of rape were explored in four studies. In the first study, 97 women read a rape scenario and completed measures of cognitive vigilance and avoidance. They also provided ratings of fear of rape and anticipated coping problems in case of sexual assault. Vigilance was associated with significantly higher levels of fear of rape and anticipation of more severe coping problems. No effects were found for cognitive avoidance. Study 2 replicated these findings with a sample of 275 women. In addition, it showed that high vigilance was associated with significantly more rape-preventive behaviors. Study 3, including 172 women, was an online study on the effect of cognitive coping style on fear of rape, anticipated coping problems, and two behavioral measures of rape avoidance. High vigilance was related to higher levels of fear of rape, anticipation of more severe coping problems, and more rape-preventive behaviors. Finally, Study 4 (N=210) showed that individual differences in cognitive coping style affected rape-related affect and behavior in the absence of a rape scenario, underlining the chronic salience of the threat of rape for women. Vigilance was positively related to fear of rape, rape-avoidance behavior, and anticipated coping problems. In contrast, a negative relationship was found between cognitive avoidance and fear of rape, rape-avoidance strategies, and anticipated coping problems. Across the four studies, no evidence was found for an interactive effect of cognitive avoidance and vigilance, as suggested by the construct of repression versus sensitization. The findings are discussed in the light of previous research on repression-sensitization in coping with threatening information.

Adaptation, Psychological↗