Stressor Appraisal on a Pathway to Health: The Role of the Sense of Coherence

In this chapter, the focus is on how the sense of coherence (SOC) influences stressor appraisal, positively as well as negatively. The processes of stimulus appraisal have a central place in salutogenic theory, even if they have received relatively little theoretical and empirical attention since Aaron Antonovsky’s extensive treatment of stimulus appraisal in Unraveling the mystery of health: How people manage stress and stay well. The chapter aims to elevate researchers’ appreciation of stimulus appraisal as Antonovsky’s little-tested answer to three key questions: How does the SOC concept link to coping behaviour, what is the mechanism that makes the connection and what is the black box in between?

Influence of cognitive styles on coping behaviour and protective mechanisms of personality

The article presents theoretical and empirical studies of cognitive styles, mental representation, coping behaviour and mechanisms of psychological defence. The influence of cognitive styles is described: rigid/flexible cognitive control, narrow/wide range of equivalence, cognitive simplicity/complexity on coping behaviour and defence mechanisms. The tendency of respondents with flexible cognitive control to assess a difficult life situation through time characteristics, to associate it with solvability and safety is revealed. In coping behaviour, they choose Self-control, Social support, Acceptance of responsibility. Cognitive simplicity/complexity is characterised by predictability, solvability and the possibility of changing the situation. Respondents belonging to a narrow range of equivalence assess the situation in terms of completeness and saturation. It is revealed that the protective and coping behaviour in a difficult life situation depends on the specifics of the mental representation of those possessing cognitive-style characteristics. It is concluded that mental representation can be a link between cognitive styles and coping behaviour.

Stress and Maladaptive Coping of Italians Health Care Professionals during the First Wave of the Pandemic

Stress during the pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of healthcare professionals (HCPs). However, little is known about coping and “maladaptive” coping behaviours of this population. This study investigates “maladaptive” coping behaviours and their correlation with stress, anxiety and insomnia of Italian HCPs during the pandemic. It reports on a cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational study based on a survey of 1955 Italian HCPs. Overall participants reported increases in cigarette smoking, time spent online and video playing. Overall reported alcohol consumption decreased but increased in those reporting drinking more than once a week. Those reporting starting smoking during the pandemic were found to have higher SAS and PSS scores. Those reporting being online for 3 or more hours were found to have higher ISS scores. Doctors who reported playing video games were found to have higher PSS, ISS and SAS scores whilst nurses who reported playing video games were found to have higher ISS scores. Doctors who reported playing for longer than one hour had higher PSS scores. Online behaviours may be a coping behaviour of HCPs affected by the pandemic. However, this is an underexplored area for the wellbeing of HCPs. These deficits need to be addressed going forward.

Burden And Coping Behaviour Among the Family Caregivers of the People With Mental Illness

Introduction: Caring for a person with mental disorder is a challenge for the caregivers. Little is known about the ways in which families cope while caring for a relative with mental illness in developing countries. This study has tried investigating the family burden and coping behaviour among the family caregivers of the people with mental illness. Material And Method: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Devdaha Medical College during the period of July 2019-December 2019. The research was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Institutional Review Board of Devdaha Medical College. The protocol approval number is 028/2019. Convenient sampling method was used. Data analysis was done in SPSS (Version 23, SPSS Inc, Chicago, USA). Results were presented as frequencies and percentages where required. Results: Moderate Burden was experienced by 72% of the caregivers while the rest 28% experienced severe burden. People whose spouses were mentally ill had severe burden. Males coped with higher degree of problem and emotional focused coping strategy than females. Males felt more burden in comparison to the females and burden was found to be significantly higher among the caregivers who were taking care of their mentally ill spouses. Conclusion: Caregiving is physically and psychologically demanding as it requires an enormous physical and emotional commitment as well as some basic skills. Teaching skills in the form of problem solving and communication are needed to promote the coping abilities and lessen the burden of caregivers.

Protective and coping behaviour of representatives of socionomic professions with different professional experience

The results of a theoretical and empirical study of psychological defenses and coping strategies of behaviour among employees of social service institutions are presented. The following methods were used in diagnostic procedures: “Life style Index” (R. Plutchik, G. Kellerman) and “Methods of coping behavior” (R. Lazarus and S. Folkman). As a result of the study, the respondents revealed the intensity of psychological defenses of the type “intellectualization”, “reactive education”, “denial” and coping strategies “problem solving planning”, “positive reassessment” and “search for social support”. The correlations of psychological defenses and coping strategies of respondents are interpreted. The specific differences of protective-coping behaviour among employees with different professional experience are shown: employees with up to ten years of experience are more inclined to compensated behaviour, and employees with ten years of experience or more – to self-control, a rational approach to solving difficulties, a responsible attitude to what is happening. The results of the study may be useful in the placement of personnel, in career counseling, in the framework of discourses on professional psychology. And further study of psychological defenses and coping strategies will help to understand the specifics of the professional identity of employees of a socionomic profile.

Defensive-coping behaviour in teenagers and adolescents

The article presents data on studying correspondence between psychological defense mechanisms and coping strategies in teenage and adolescent years within the context of a unified system of self-regulation and adaptation. The relevance of research into defensive-coping behavior is conditioned by the need to understand interaction between defense mechanisms and coping strategies in teenage years and adolescence, as well as to solve the practical problem, i.e. to improve adaptive capabilities of adolescents and young men in stressful situations by reducing non-constructive forms of defensive-coping behavior. The purpose of the study is to investigate the interconnection between defense mechanisms and coping strategies as an individual makes a transition from teenage to adolescent years. Supposedly, defense mechanisms and coping strategies can both complement and contradict each other in teenage and adolescent years. The study was carried out on a sample (N = 203) consisting of representatives of teenage (n = 94, aged 12 to 15) and adolescent age groups (n = 109, aged 17 to 19), who attended general education and vocational schools of the town of Lipetsk. We used the following techniques: Life style index (R. Plutchik et al.), SACS test (S. Hobfoll). Based on the factor analysis, we singled out 4 styles of defensive-coping behaviour in teenagers (which explain 56.2% of general dispersion) and 5 styles of defensive-coping behaviour in adolescents (which explain 62.1% of general dispersion). We determined the factorial structure of the defensive-coping behavior of adolescents and young men. The analysis of the variables of the identified factors established the following: 1) problem-oriented coping strategies are in opposition to the defensive mechanism of regression; 2) immature forms of defense mechanisms (regression and substitution) "support" non-constructive coping strategies; 3) in adolescence, problem-oriented coping is used more actively. To ensure positive result in counseling practice with adolescents and young men, it is important to work with both non-constructive coping strategies and immature defenses.

Increasing Endocannabinoid Tone Alters Anxiety-Like and Stress Coping Behaviour in Female Rats Prenatally Exposed to Valproic Acid

Given the sex differences evident in the prevalence of autism, there is an increased awareness of the importance of including females in autism research to determine sexual dimorphism and sex-specific treatments. Cannabinoids and endocannabinoid modulators have been proposed as potential novel treatments for autism-related symptoms; however, few studies to date have examined if these pharmacological agents elicit sex-specific effects. The aim of the present study was to use the valproic acid (VPA) model of autism to compare the behavioural responses of male and female rats and examine the effects of increasing endocannabinoid tone on the behavioural responses of VPA-exposed female rats. These data revealed that VPA-exposed male, but not female, rats exhibit reduced social responding in the three-chamber and olfactory habituation/dishabituation (OHD) test during adolescence. In comparison, VPA-exposed female, but not male, adolescent rats exhibited anxiety-like behaviour in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field test (OFT). In VPA-exposed female rats, increasing 2-AG levels augmented anxiety-like behaviour in the EPM and OFT, while increasing AEA levels reduced stress coping behaviour in the swim stress test. These data highlight sexual dimorphic behaviours in the VPA model and indicate that enhancing endocannabinoid levels may exacerbate negative affective behaviour in VPA-exposed females. Thus, considerations should be paid to the possible sex-specific effects of cannabinoids for the treatment of symptoms associated with autism.