scholarly journals Anxiety Status and Coping Strategies in Association with Sociodemographic Factors, Dietary and Lifestyle Habits in Greece

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 152-160
Author(s):  
Maria Batsikoura ◽  
Sofia Zyga ◽  
Foteini Tzavella ◽  
Athanasios Sachlas ◽  
Andrea Paola Rojas Gil

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between nutritional habits, lifestyle, anxiety, and coping strategies. Background: Anxiety is an underestimated and often undiagnosed subclinical disorder that burdens the general public of modern societies and increases illness suscentibility. Methods: The study group consisted of 693 individuals living in Peloponnese, Greece. A standardized questionnaire that consists of the dietary habits and lifestyle questionnaire, the trait Anxiety STAI-X-2 questionnaire and the brief-COPE questionnaire, was used. Principal components analysis identified the factors from the questionnaires, and stepwise multivariate regression analysis investigated their relationships. Results: Weekly consumption of fruits, tomatoes, salads and lettuce, together with Εmotional/Ιnstrumental support, Denial/Behavioural disengagement, substance use and self-blame, was the most important predictors of anxiety scores. Positive reframing/Humour and Acceptance/Planning are also associated with the Positive STAI factor and decreased anxiety scores. Conclusion: Healthy nutritional habits, comprised of consumption of salads and fruits, together with adaptive coping strategies, such as Positive reframing/Humour and Active problem solving, may provide the most profound improvement in the anxiety levels of a healthy population in Peloponnese, Greece.

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Fonseca de Freitas ◽  
◽  
Cláudia Silva ◽  
Susana Coimbra ◽  
◽  
...  

Previous studies reveal that the negative effect of discrimination on mental health is particularly pernicious among stigmatised minorities. However, research also points out the importance of protection mechanisms that may buffer its effect. This study aimed to explore the relationships between mental health, perceived discrimination, and coping strategies of positive reframing and self-blame in LGB and heterosexual youth. Data were collected through a paper and pencil and an online survey administered to 195 Portuguese adolescents and young adults. The survey covered mental health (Mental Health Inventory-5), discrimination (Everyday Discrimination Scale), and coping strategies (Brief COPE). Of the sample, 73.3% were women and 51.8% self-identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB). Analyses of variance show that LGB participants have experienced more discrimination than their heterosexual counterparts. There was no difference in the levels of mental health and the use of self-blame or positive reframing coping strategies. Regression analyses reveal that perceived discrimination and self-blame contribute to the worsening of the mental health of LGB and heterosexual youth. Positive reframing coping was a predictor of mental health only in LGB participants, a strategy that contributed to their resilience in the face of discrimination. Additionally, only LGB participants displayed an indirect effect of discrimination on mental health, partially mediated by self-blame coping. Results corroborate previous findings that suggest that perceived discrimination has a more deleterious effect for members of a minority group and support the psychological mediation framework regarding the effect of discrimination on mental health in stigmatised groups.


2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 168-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Subedi ◽  
Dana S. Edge ◽  
Catherine L. Goldie ◽  
Monakshi Sawhney

Background Since 2008, Bhutanese refugees have been resettled in Canada, including Ottawa. This relocation and resettling process is associated with significant physical and psychological stress, as individuals acclimatize to a new country. Purpose To assess the relationship between coping strategies and psychological well-being of Bhutanese refugees resettled in Ottawa. Methods A cross-sectional survey utilizing a convenience sample of adults (n = 110) was conducted in the fall of 2015 in Ottawa. Two tools, Brief COPE and general well-being schedule were used. Results Bhutanese refugees were in moderate distress. Using multiple linear regression, age, education, and three coping strategies (positive reframing, self-blame, and venting) were identified as predictors of general well-being ( F (11, 96) = 3.61, p < .001, R2 = 21.2%). Higher levels of education and positive reframing were associated with greater general well-being scores, while self-blame and well-being between ages 41 and 50 years were inversely associated with general well-being. Conclusions Findings suggest that a broad intersectorial approach between nurses and partner agencies is needed to enhance the mental health of this population for better adjustment in the host country. Nurses could provide support and counseling to minimize the use of self-blame and venting and promote positive coping strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 98
Author(s):  
Nefeli Paraskevi Strongylaki ◽  
Georgios Pilafas ◽  
Anastasia Dermati ◽  
Despina Menti ◽  
Georgios Lyrakos

Background: The psychological impact of quarantine, due to the SARS COVID-19 outbreak, was examined with a specific focus on the relationship between 7 coping strategies: (i) active coping, (ii) positive reframing, (iii) acceptance, (iv) use of emotional support, (v) religion, (vi) substance use and (vii) self-blame and acute stress. This study aimed to identify specifically which of those coping strategies could increase or decrease acute stress levels.Method and Material: The data collection took place during the lockdown and was performed using online surveys. The finale sample size reached up to 1154 Greek adults (age M= 40.51). Two adapted and translated scales were used to measure the variables of interest, including: Brief-COPE questionnaire as well as Acute Stress Disorder Scale (ASDS).Results: “Active coping”, “acceptance”, “positive reframing” and “emotional support”, four of the coping strategies examined, that were found to be significantly associated with stress reduction. Meanwhile, “religion”, “self-blame” and “substance use” were not associated with stress reduction. Conclusions: This study initially provides an insight of acute stress and effective coping strategies associated with the quarantine period during the COVID – 19 pandemic in Greece. The outcome of this study equip support for the expected inflation of the mental health issues stemmed from the unusual stressors, and urge clinicians, mental health providers, and public agencies to assemble, in an attempt to make possible the widespread implementation of more effective and beneficial coping strategies.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 466
Author(s):  
Diana Antonia Iordăchescu ◽  
Corina Ioana Paica ◽  
Alina Estera Boca ◽  
Corina Gică ◽  
Anca Maria Panaitescu ◽  
...  

The present study aims to highlight how women perceive and adapt to infertility difficulties. To better understand the difficulties that women diagnosed with infertility are experiencing, the study explores this concept in correlation with anxiety and coping. 240 women with fertility problems from various parts of Romania completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Form Y), Brief COPE and the scale “Difficulties With Infertility and Its Treatment.” Statistical analyzes showed that women who were at the beginning of treatment obtained higher scores on the anxiety [F(2,237) = 4.76, p = 0.009] and on the difficulties scale [F(2,237) = 3.53, p = 0.031], compared to participants who resorted to repeated fertilization procedures. It is important to emphasize that there is a significant positive correlation between the perception of infertility difficulties and coping, and also between difficulties and state anxiety. Regarding the relationship between state anxiety and coping, there were significant positive associations between maladaptive coping strategies and state anxiety, while adaptive strategies were negatively associated with state anxiety. In addition, regarding coping strategies, venting and self-blame occurred predominantly in women who know that the cause of infertility is female-related. These findings draws attention to the fact that infertile women live this experience at very high levels of anxiety, using quite a few adaptive coping mechanisms. These results highlight the need to investigate ways to reduce anxiety and optimizing adaptive coping strategies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 380-383
Author(s):  
Naeema Arzeen ◽  
Erum Irshad ◽  
Saima Arzeen ◽  
Syed Mubashar Shah

Objectives: The current study investigated the differences on stress, depression, anxiety, and coping strategies of parents of intellectually disabled and non-disabled children. Material and Methods: Sample consisted of parents (N=300) that was further divided into two groups (parents of intellectually disabled children; n=150 and parents of non-disabled children; n=150). Data was collected from Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Wah Cantt; for this purpose consent form, demographic information sheet, along with two standardized scales Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-42) and Brief COPE were given to the parents of disabled children and non-disabled children. Results: The study shows that significant mean differences were observed on DASS; intellectually disabled children’s parents reported higher stress, depression, and anxiety than non-disabled children’s parents. Non-significant mean differences were observed in subscale of Brief COPE, except on self-blame in which parents of intellectually disabled children scores were higher as compared to the parents of non-disabled children. Conclusion: The findings depicted that disability raises extra burden on the parents which promoted stress, depression, and anxiety. After developing these psychopathologies parents became over sensitive and got emotional and used emotion based coping patterns. They easily blame themselves for the disability and all the problems which are directly linked with it.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 20-28
Author(s):  
Retneswari Masilamani ◽  
Myat Moe Thwe Aung ◽  
Hamidah Othman ◽  
Aini Abu Bakar ◽  
Tan Chung Keat ◽  
...  

Literature has documented that student nurses undergo stress in their academic and clinical setting. This raises concerns because stress during undergraduate training may result in psychological or emotional impairment during the nurses’ professional life and ultimately affect the quality of patient care. The Objective of the study was to study the prevalence of stress, and the association between sociodemographic factors, stressors and coping strategies with stress. This was a cross-sectional study on 96-year 1-3 nursing students from a government university done between 2015-2018. Bahasa Malaysia translated The General Health Questionnaire, Stressors in Nursing Student Scale Questionnaire and Brief COPE Questionnaire was used in this study. This study had Malay (95.9%) and female (91.7%) dominated population. The prevalence of stress in student nurses was 25%. No association was reported between sociodemographic factors and stress. Among the 4 stressors educational, clinical, confidence and financial, clinical stressor scored the highest mean 6.40 (SD±3.66). Confidence stressor (AOR=1.26 95% CI 1.04-1.53) was the only stressor associated with stress. The top 3 coping strategies practiced by the student nurses were religion (praying), acceptance and planning. Self-blame (AOR 8.18 95% CI 1.86-35.91) was the only coping strategy associated with stress. Stress management programmes, and workshops on stress and coping strategies should be conducted yearly to ensure a well-balanced environment for good learning experiences and prevent stress related health problems and improved academic performance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Miguel Santiago ◽  
Joana Catarina Pinto

Abstract Background Medical students are often exposed to stressors, studies showing that one third of them suffers from depression, a larger figure then the general population and more vulnerable to stress comparing to other courses’ students. The use of coping strategies when medical students are in distress must be studied and then discussed with students. Methods Prospective cohort analytical study with two points in time evaluation, in a quasi-random sample, representative of the 3rd year students in the 2020/2021 school year. An epidemiological survey, Patient Health Questionnaire–4 (PHQ-4) and BRIEF-COPE were applied. In between evaluations results were presented two discussions and motivational interventions being made. Results In samples of n = 101 3rd year students in September, and n = 112 students in November students’ distress by PHQ-4 (P &lt; 0.001), was worst in November and ‘Expression of feelings’ (P = 0.004) was more used in November in Brief-Cope questionnaire use. Increased use of coping strategies ‘Expression of feelings’ (P = 0.004) and ‘Planning’ (P = 0.045) and a decrease of ‘Substances abuse’ (P = 0.020) were found from September to November. A significant distress increase was verified in such period of time (P &lt; 0.001). In November significant weak positive correlation, between the level of distress and the items in BRIEF-COPE, for the strategies ‘Use emotional support’, ‘Positive reinterpretation’, ‘Acceptance’, ‘Self-distraction’ and ‘Substance use’ and a significant negative correlation in the items ‘Plan’, ‘Self-blame’, ‘Behavioural divestment’ and ‘Humour’ were found. Conclusions A noteworthy rise in distress was found. Students significantly altered some coping tactics even though distress increased. These findings are troublesome and deserve further studies and attention.


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (07) ◽  
pp. 876-880
Author(s):  
Mamoona Mushtaq ◽  
Najma Najam

The literature review portrays a reasonable picture of the role of certain copingstrategies in developing hypertension. Objectives: Present research based on self-regulationtheory explored correlation of coping strategies of stress with hypertension. Design: Crosssectional research design. Setting: Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Services Hospital, Ganga RamHospital, Lahore. Period: June 2010 to June 2011. Method & material: Sample (N = 400)outdoor hypertensive males (N = 100) and hypertensive females (N = 100) between ages30-60, and their age matched healthy controls (N= 200, 100 males, 100 females) were takenfrom 3 hospitals. Measures: Brief COPE scale was used to measure coping strategies.Analysis: Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were carried out. Results: Significantpositive correlation of hypertension with active coping, substance use, instrumental support,positive reframing, acceptance, and self-blame was found and active coping, acceptance,instrumental social support and self-blame coping strategies appeared as significant predictorsof hypertension.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Funuyet-Salas ◽  
A Martín-Rodríguez ◽  
M A Pérez-San-Gregorio ◽  
M Romero-Gómez

Abstract Background To date, coping strategies have not been studied in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), despite evidence of their relevance in chronic liver pathology, Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity (OB). We therefore analyzed which coping strategies predicted quality of life in diabetic and obese NAFLD patients. Methods Four hundred and ninety-two biopsy-proven NAFLD patients (290 men and 202 women, mean age 54.90±11.74) were evaluated using The Brief COPE, 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) and Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire-Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (CLDQ-NAFLD). A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was performed on four groups (G1, n = 335, absence of T2DM; G2, n = 157, presence of T2DM; G3, n = 249, absence of OB; and G4, n = 243, presence of OB) to analyze which coping strategies predicted patient quality of life (physical component summary SF-12, mental component summary SF-12, and total CLDQ-NAFLD). Results In both diabetic and obese patients, active coping (T2DM, p = 0.003, β = 0.26; OB, p = 0.000, β = 0.33) and denial (T2DM, p = 0.027, β=-0.19; OB, p = 0.004, β=-0.18) predicted the physical component summary. Denial (T2DM, p = 0.000, β=-0.30; OB, p = 0.001, β=-0.19), positive reframing (T2DM, p = 0.000, β = 0.28; OB, p = 0.000, β = 0.29), self-blame (T2DM, p = 0.000, β=-0.24; OB, p = 0.000, β=-0.26) and self-distraction (T2DM, p = 0.033, β=-0.13; OB, p = 0.023, β=-0.11) predicted the mental component summary. Denial (T2DM, p = 0.000, β=-0.34; OB, p = 0.000, β=-0.31), positive reframing (T2DM, p = 0.000, β = 0.30; OB, p = 0.005, β = 0.15) and self-blame (T2DM, p = 0.000, β=-0.26; OB, p = 0.000, β=-0.28) also predicted the total CLDQ-NAFLD in both groups. Conclusions Active coping and positive reframing predicted better quality of life, while denial, self-blame and self-distraction predicted worse quality of life in diabetic and obese NAFLD patients, suggesting the inclusion of coping strategies in future multidisciplinary NAFLD treatments. Key messages Importance of coping strategies for NAFLD patients: active coping and positive reframing predicted better quality of life, while denial, self-blame and self-distraction predicted worse quality. This study shows the need to design multidisciplinary strategies for managing NAFLD and improving patient quality of life, in which intervention in coping strategies should be a major element.


Author(s):  
Vaishali Shanmugam

BACKGROUND: COVID -19 pandemic is a very stressful situation for doctors, who face the risk of infection in daily life. Coping is the process by which a person deals with stressful situations or demands. Identifying the coping strategies of our medical professionals will help us to understand their coping styles and to deliver effective interventions to enhance their mental well-being. METHODS: An online survey form with socio-demographic profile and BRIEF COPE tool for assessing different coping strategies was sent to interns, residents, and teaching faculty. The coping strategies were divided into emotion-based, problem-based, and dysfunctional coping, and spearman's correlation was done to determine any correlation between sociodemographic variables and the coping strategies. RESULTS: A total of 84 valid and complete responses were included in the study. There is a variable distribution of mean scores for problem-focused, emotion-focused, and dysfunctional strategies. Age and marital status had a positive correlation with problem-focused and emotion-focused strategies meaning that older adults and married people used these strategies predominantly. Higher designation used problem-focused coping predominantly. Dysfunctional coping strategies had no correlation with any of the sociodemographic variables. CONCLUSION: Sociodemographic factors affecting the coping mechanisms in medical professionals differ from those of the general population seen in previous studies. Within the group of medical professionals, those with higher age, higher designation and married had predominantly adaptive strategies. Interventions targetting maladaptive components of emotion-focused strategies and dysfunctional strategies should be aimed at a younger age group, unmarried people, interns, and residents among the medical professionals to better cope with this COVID scenario.


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