Coping with cancer: The role of different sources of psychosocial support and the personality of patients with cancer in (mal)adaptive coping strategies

ObjectivesCancer is a serious event in a person's life. However, certain coping strategies in relation to selected social, emotional and personality factors appear to manage the disease.MethodsSources of social support were tested in cancer survivors (N = 696) using hierarchical linear regression. Selected personality variables in terms of sociodemographic, clinical, and emotional factors were used as predictors of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies.Results It was found that adaptive coping strategies were more frequent in younger patients, in patients who attended cancer support groups and those with a greater level of optimism. Maladaptive coping was related to the higher level of experience of pain and sadness, neuroticism, and pessimism. The absence of a relapse and the time since the disease had been diagnosed were also important factors in coping with cancer.Conclusions The results point to the importance of considering various individual factors in the process of intervention to facilitate adaptive coping and to reduce maladaptive coping.

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Examining Behavioural Coping Strategies as Mediators between Work-Family Conflict and Psychological Distress

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2015/343075 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sanaz Aazami ◽

Khadijah Shamsuddin ◽

Syaqirah Akmal

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Family Conflict ◽

Working Women ◽

Work And Family ◽

Stressful Situation ◽

Adaptive Coping ◽

Work Family Conflict ◽

Maladaptive Coping ◽

Work Family

We examined the mediating role of behavioral coping strategies in the association between work-family conflict and psychological distress. In particular, we examined the two directions of work-family conflict, namely, work interference into family and family interference into work. Furthermore, two coping styles in this study were adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 429 Malaysian working women using self-reported data. The results of mediational analysis in the present study showed that adaptive coping strategy does not significantly mediate the effect of work-family conflict on psychological distress. However, maladaptive coping strategies significantly mediate the effect of work-family conflict on psychological distress. These results show that adaptive coping strategies, which aimed to improve the stressful situation, are not effective in managing stressor such as work-family conflict. We found that experiencing interrole conflict steers employees toward frequent use of maladaptive coping strategies which in turn lead to psychological distress. Interventions targeted at improvement of coping skills which are according to individual’s needs and expectation may help working women to balance work and family demands. The important issue is to keep in mind that effective coping strategies are to control the situations not to eliminate work-family conflict.

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Session 6: Maladaptive/Adaptive Coping

10.1093/med:psych/9780195339734.003.0007 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Paul Kennedy

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Adaptive Coping ◽

Maladaptive Coping ◽

Stress Appraisal ◽

And Coping

Chapter 7 discusses session six of the CET program for SCI. This session focuses on maladaptive and adaptive coping, and begins by reviewing what has been learned throughout the course of the sessions so far (stress, appraisal, and coping strategies). Maladaptive coping is then explored and contrasted to adaptive coping.

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Associations of Historical Loss, Resilience, and Coping with Loss-related Emotional Symptoms in the Anishinaabe

American Journal of Health Behavior ◽

10.5993/ajhb.44.2.11 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 244-251

Author(s):

Charlee N. Brissette ◽

Z. Erum Whyne ◽

H. Matthew Lehrer ◽

Jihun Woo ◽

Mary A. Steinhardt

Keyword(s):

Native Americans ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Psychological Resilience ◽

Adaptive Coping ◽

Emotional Symptoms ◽

Community Members ◽

Maladaptive Coping ◽

Historical Loss ◽

And Coping

Objectives: Native Americans have higher rates of mental health symptoms and chronic disease compared to the general population, partly due to historical loss (eg, land, language, culture). Few studies have examined strength-based characteristics that enable Native populations to cope with loss and reduce loss-related emotional symptoms (eg, anxiety, anger). Methods: We recruited 81 participants (mean age 47.9 years; 61% female) in a midwestern Anishinaabe community using convenience sampling. Participants completed questionnaires assessing historical loss, loss-related emotional symptoms, psychological resilience, and maladaptive and adaptive coping strategies. Hierarchical regression analyses examined associations of historical loss, psychological resilience, and coping strategies with loss-related emotional symptoms after controlling for demographics. Results: Historical loss ( β = .56, p < .001) and maladaptive coping strategies ( β = .23, p < .05) were positively associated with loss-related symptoms among Anishinaabe community members; psychological resilience was inversely associated with loss-related symptoms ( β = -.21, p < .05). Adaptive coping strategies ( β = .02, p > .05) were not associated with loss-related symptoms. Conclusions: Findings suggest that historical loss is associated with loss-related emotional symptoms in the Anishinaabe population. Public health programs that foster psychological resilience and reduce maladaptive coping strategies are needed to address these loss-related symptoms.

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Coping strategies modify risk of depression associated with hematopoietic cell transplant symptomatology

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105316642004 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (8) ◽

pp. 1028-1037 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Anna Barata ◽

Brian D Gonzalez ◽

Steven K Sutton ◽

Brent J Small ◽

Paul B Jacobsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Problem Solving ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Hematopoietic Cell ◽

Cell Transplant ◽

Adaptive Coping ◽

Maladaptive Coping ◽

Hematopoietic Cell Transplant ◽

Post Transplant ◽

Patients At Risk

To determine whether coping strategies modify the risk of depression among allogeneic recipients experiencing post-transplant-related symptomatology, 105 participants (mean age = 52 years, 42% female) completed questionnaires 90 days post-transplant. A total of 28 percent reported depressive symptoms. Univariate correlations indicated that depression was associated with greater transplant-related symptomatology and avoidance, acceptance/resignation, and emotional discharge coping. Depression was negatively associated with problem-solving coping. Moderator analyses indicated that transplant-related symptomatology was significantly associated with depression among patients who frequently used maladaptive coping and rarely used adaptive coping. These data suggest that transplant-related symptomatology, combined with maladaptive coping, place patients at risk of depression.

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Perceived stress and coping strategies among undergraduate dental students – an institutional based study

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health ◽

10.1515/ijamh-2019-0070 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Nagarani Veeraboina ◽

Dolar Doshi ◽

Suhas Kulkarni ◽

Shiva Kumar Patanapu ◽

Satya Narayana Danatala ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coping Strategies ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Dental Students ◽

Stress And Coping ◽

Adaptive Coping ◽

Maladaptive Coping ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Stress Levels ◽

Second Year ◽

And Coping

AbstractBackgroundCoping strategies are highly mediated by the environment, in particular when the person deals with the obstacles and impediments to fulfill their goals. This study aimed to investigate the Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies among Undergraduate Dental Students of Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences Hyderabad, India.Materials and MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out among 267 undergraduate dental students. The survey tool comprised of Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Brief COPE Scale along with demographic variables. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 20.0.ResultsBased on gender, females had high PSS mean scores (23.8±7.3) than males and to overwhelm these stress levels most of the students followed adaptive coping strategies (40.4±7.8) with no significant difference. But, significant difference noted for maladaptive coping dimension “denial” (p=0.004). On comparison between year of study, higher perceived stress was noted among second year students (26.7± 5.8), and least among first years (21.6±7). In order to defeat the stressors most of the second year undergraduate students used adaptive coping strategies. However, highest mean adaptive coping scores were noted among first years (41.6±7.5) and least scores observed among fourth years (38.6±9.2). However, total PSS score showed significant positive correlation (p<0.001) with maladaptive coping strategies.ConclusionFemales and second year students perceived more stress levels, to overtake those stressors most of them followed adaptive coping strategies. Hence, institutional authorities should take measures to decrease the stress levels and encourage the students to adopt healthy life style such as meditation and exercise to beat their stressors.

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Prostate Cancer Support Groups

American Journal of Men s Health ◽

10.1177/1557988314543510 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 163-172 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

John L. Oliffe ◽

Suzanne Chambers ◽

Bernie Garrett ◽

Joan L. Bottorff ◽

Michael McKenzie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Support Groups ◽

Psychosocial Support ◽

Information Provision ◽

Web Based ◽

Face To Face ◽

Cancer Support ◽

Educational Role ◽

Cancer Support Groups ◽

Cancer Specialists

To understand prostate cancer (PCa) specialists’ views about prostate cancer support groups (PCSGs), a volunteer sample of Canada-based PCa specialists ( n = 150), including urologists ( n = 100), radiation oncologists ( n = 40), and medical oncologists ( n = 10) were surveyed. The 56-item questionnaire used in this study included six sets of attitudinal items to measure prostate cancer specialists’ beliefs about positive and negative influences of PCSGs, reasons for attending PCSGs, the attributes of effective PCSGs, and the value of face-to-face and web-based PCSGs. In addition, an open-ended question was included to invite additional input from participants. Results showed that PCSGs were positively valued, particularly for information sharing, education and psychosocial support. Inclusivity, privacy, and accessibility were identified as potential barriers, and recommendations were made for better marketing PCSGs to increase engagement. Findings suggest prostate cancer specialists highly valued the role and potential benefits of face-to-face PCSGs. Information provision and an educational role were perceived as key benefits. Some concerns were expressed about the ability of web-based PCSGs to effectively engage and educate men who experience prostate cancer.

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Adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies among patients with advanced cancer.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.e24129 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. e24129-e24129

Author(s):

Rony Dev ◽

Akhila Sunkepally Reddy ◽

Joseph Anthony Arthur ◽

Ali Haider ◽

Ishwaria Mohan Subbiah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Substance Use ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Advanced Cancer ◽

Male Gender ◽

Adaptive Coping ◽

Post Secondary Education ◽

Maladaptive Coping ◽

Post Secondary

e24129 Background: Few studies have examined the coping mechanisms among patients with advanced cancer seen by palliative care. The objective of the study was to evaluate coping strategies in advanced cancer patients and identity risk factors for maladaptive coping. Methods: The authors conducted a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey on chemical coping. We prospectively enrolled patients with advanced cancer from a Supportive Care Clinic and documented the patient demographics, symptom expression (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System), Zubrod performance status, substance use history including tobacco, and coping strategies (the Brief COPE Questionnaire). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for the use of maladaptive coping strategies. Results: Among 399 patients, the most common malignancies were gastrointestinal (21%) and breast (19%). Cancer patients frequently incorporated adaptive coping strategies including acceptance (86.7%), emotional support (79.9%), religion (69.4%), active coping (62.4%), instrumental support (48.4%), positive reframing (48.6%), planning (49.6%), and infrequently, humor (18.5%). Common maladaptive strategies included self-distraction (36.6%) and venting (14.5%), while self-blame (6.3%), denial (4.5%), behavioral disengagement (1.8%), and substance use (1.0%) were infrequently reported. On univariate analysis, venting was significantly associated with anxiety and depression, female gender, and tobacco use; and self-distraction was significantly associated with younger age, gender, depression, dyspnea, and a post-secondary education (P<0.05 for all). On multivariate analysis, male gender (OR -1.22, p<0.0001) and smoking (non-smoker vs everyday OR -1.9, P=0.008 ) remained significant for maladaptive venting; and age (HR -0.026, p=0.005), male gender (OR -0.65, p=0.004), dyspnea (OR -0.12, p=0.01) and post-secondary education (OR 0.596, p=0.022) remained significant for self-distraction. Conclusions: The vast majority of patients with advanced cancer seen by palliative care reported using adaptive coping strategies. We identified subgroup of patients who may be more likely to use maladapative coping strategies and may benefit from further psychological support.

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Denial Predicts Outcome in Anxiety Following Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy ◽

10.1891/0889-8391.27.4.370 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 370-383 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tian-Po S. Oei ◽

Esben Strodl ◽

Jasmine Pang ◽

Lixia Cui

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Behavioral Therapy ◽

Cognitive Behavioral ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Adaptive Coping ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Maladaptive Coping ◽

Depressed Symptoms ◽

Group Cbt

This study aimed to explore whether participants’ pretherapy coping strategies predicted the outcome of group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depression. It was hypothesized that adaptive coping strategies such as the use of active planning and acceptance would be associated with higher reductions, whereas maladaptive coping strategies such as denial and disengagement would be associated with lower reductions in anxious and depressed symptoms following psychotherapy. There were 144 participants who completed group CBT for anxiety and depression. Measures of coping strategies were administered prior to therapy, whereas measures of depression and anxiety were completed both prior to and following therapy. The results showed that higher levels of denial were associated with a poorer outcome, in terms of change in anxiety but not depression, following therapy. These findings suggest the usefulness of using the Denial subscale from the revised Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) as a predictor of outcome in group CBT for anxiety.

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