Changes over time of coping behavior and stress responses]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between coping behavior and stress response of undergraduates as they experienced over time prior to an examination. One hundred forty eight undergraduates were asked to complete a set of questionnaires on coping behavior and stress response at a month (T1), a week (T2), and immediately (T3) prior to an important examination. Cluster analysis showed that there were four clusters of coping behavior at each period of time. Regardless of their effort level, students with high distress showed higher stress score than those with low distress. In hierarchical regression analysis of stress response change, an interaction effect of effort change and distress change over T1 to T2 was significant. Stress responses lessened for students whose effort score increased but distress score decreased. The opposite was true for those whose effort score decreased but distress score increased. From T2 to T3, a main effect of distress was significant: For students whose stress response increased, distress score also increased.     

Acceptance,appraisals, and coping in relation to migraine headache: an evaluation of interrelationships using daily diary methods

Acceptance and chronic pain is an emerging topic both for research and intervention. Initial studies have demonstrated that acceptance is correlated with higher quality of daily emotional, social, and physical functioning in chronic pain populations. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the nature of the relationship between acceptance, appraisals that are relevant to chronic pain (i.e., control and catastrophizing), and coping among migraine headache sufferers. Seventy four participants with migraine headaches completed self report measures assessing appraisal, coping strategies, acceptance, and pain related disability. Sixty three participants also completed a 28-day daily dairy assessing headache activity, catastrophizing, control, acceptance, and coping strategies. Hierarchical regression and multilevel modeling were used to examine the relations between these variables. Results indicated that higher levels of pain-related acceptance were associated with lower levels of catastrophizing and pain-related interference, and increased perceived control. Participants who endorsed higher levels of pain-related acceptance also reported engaging in a higher level of activity and indicated they used fewer coping strategies on a daily basis. Acceptance continues to show promise as a way of viewing pain that lessens the detrimental impact of certain types of thoughts (i.e., catastrophizing), and leads to increased participation in daily life.     

Genetic predisposition to anxiety-related behavior determines coping style, neuroendocrine responses, and neuronal activation during social defeat

Genetic background may influence an individual's susceptibility to, and subsequent coping strategy for, an acute stressor. When exposed to social defeat (SD), rats bred for high (HAB) or low (LAB) trait anxiety, which also differ in depression-like behavior, showed highly divergent passive and active coping behaviors, respectively. HABs spent more time freezing and emitted more ultrasound vocalization calls during SD than LABs, which spent more time rearing and grooming. Although the behavioral data confirmed the prediction that heightened trait anxiety would make rats more prone to experience stress, adrenocorticotropin and corticosterone were secreted to a higher extent in LABs than in HABs. In the latter, Fos expression upon SD was enhanced in the amygdala and hypothalamic areas compared with LABs, whereas it was diminished in prefrontal and brainstem areas.     

正念对大学生应对方式的影响:未来时间洞察力的中介作用

目的:探讨大学生正念、未来时间洞察力与应对方式之间的关系.方法:采用正念注意知觉量表、简易应对方式问卷与一般未来时间洞察力问卷对343名大学生进行问卷调查.采用Hayes开发的SPSS宏程序PROCESS检验未来时间洞察力在大学生正念和应对方式之间的中介作用.结果:正念得分与积极应对得分呈正相关(r = 0.418,P...     

重复与单次自杀行为者的生活满意度、应对方式及社会支持

目的:比较重复与单次自杀行为者生活满意度主观感受方面的差异,了解重复与单次自杀行为者出院后不同时期应对方式和社会支持情况,丰富自杀干预理论素材。方法:用生活满意度主观评价条目询问115例住院自杀行为者对自杀5年前、1年前、1个月前、当前、自杀1个月后、1年后、5年后生活满意度,并在其出院18个月、3年、5年时,采用应对方式问卷(CSQ)和社会支持评定量表(SSQ)施测。将有自杀未遂史及出院后6年内再次出现自杀的列为重复自杀行为者,并与单次自杀行为者比较。结果:24例重复自杀行为者就诊住院时对不同时期生活满意度(当前满意度除外)主观评价及累加总分均低于91例单次自杀行为者[如总分(18.9±3.6)vs.(22.6±4.0);均P<0.05]。出院后3年、5年时评定,重复自杀行为者CSQ中的退避、自责、幻想得分高于单次自杀行为者,而CSQ中的解决问题、求助及SSQ的主观支持、支持利用度、支持总分低于单次自杀行为者(均P<0.05)。将应对方式、社会支持、主观满意度分别放入与精神疾病等变量进行logistic回归分析,结果患有精神疾病者(OR=3.39～7.68,均P<0.05)有较高的重复自杀风险,而同时将上述变量一起多因素logistic回归分析,所有变量与重复自杀的相关均无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。结论:相对单次自杀行为者,重复自杀者生活满意度主观评价低,应对方式不良,社会支持差,且具有持续性。精神疾病与生活满意度、应对方式、社会支持相互影响,这些因素中,精神疾病与重复自杀的联系可能更紧密些。     

The effects of fexofenadine on reaction time, decision-making, and driver behavior.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of fexofenadine on driver behavior, decision-making, and reaction time in a blinded, randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled study. METHODS: A total of 259 male and female adult volunteers participated in a standardized BMW advanced driving test (the skid-pan test; Pretoria, South Africa) and a decision and reaction test of the Vienna Psychomotor Test System. The psychomotor test focused on mean decision times, mean reaction time, decision errors and reaction errors. After a baseline pretest run, the test was repeated 2.6 hours after ingesting either fexofenadine hydrochloride (180 mg) or placebo (the posttest; 1:1). RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-five volunteers were included in the final efficacy analysis (195 males and 60 females). There was a reduction in the road test time going from the pretest to the posttest, signifying a learning effect, and an increase in the decision time. Although there was a consistent increase in the number of errors committed in the road test, decision time, and reaction time, there were no significant differences between the placebo and the fexofenadine groups. Although significant differences were observed between men and women for the road test time (P < 0.001), decision time (P < 0.001), and reaction time (P = 0.003), there were no differences between the fexofenadine and placebo groups in these subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: No differences were found between the fexofenadine and placebo groups on reaction times, decision-making, driver behavior, or adverse effects.     

Attachment style and coping in relation to posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among adults living with HIV/AIDS

Research indicates that a significant proportion of people living with HIV/AIDS report symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Moreover, attachment style has been associated with psychological and behavioral outcomes among persons living with HIV/AIDS. Attachment style may influence the ability to cope with traumatic stress and affect PTSD symptoms. To examine the association between attachment style and coping with PTSD symptoms, we assessed 94 HIV-positive adults on self-report measures of posttraumatic stress, coping, and attachment style. In multiple regression analysis, avoidant attachment and emotion-focused coping were positively and significantly associated with greater PTSD symptomatology. Support was also found for the moderating effects of avoidant and insecure attachment styles on emotion-focused coping in relation to greater PTSD symptoms. Taken altogether, these results suggest that interventions that develop adaptive coping skills and focus on the underlying construct of attachment may be particularly effective in reducing trauma-related symptoms in adults living with HIV/AIDS.     

Psychological response to amniocentesis: II. Effects of coping style

Differences in coping style were assessed in a group of women undergoing amniocentesis and a control group not having the procedure. Subjects were divided into two groups according to coping style; "monitors" (information seekers) and "blunters" (information avoiders). In the amniocentesis group, coping style was associated with differences in mood state and change in mood state over time. "Monitors" experienced greater mood disturbance than "blunters" both before and during the procedure, but this effect disappeared after communication of amniocentesis results. Coping style was not associated with differences in maternal attitudes toward pregnancy or maternal-fetal attachment. In the control group, there were no differences between "monitors" and "blunters" on any of the mood state or pregnancy measures. Implications of these findings for providers of genetics services are discussed.     

Postpartum depression: in relation to life events and patterns of coping

Summary The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) and its relationship with life events (LE) and patterns for coping. We performed a cross-sectional study of 113 women, on the 10^th day of puerperium, at the Obstetric Clinic of the São Paulo University Medical School. The study was based on the following: Pitt (1967) and Stein (1980) Scales, Beck Depression Inventory (1961), Holmes and Rahe Schedule of Recent Events (1967), Folkman and Lazarus Ways of Coping (1985) and questionnaire of social-demographic and obstetric data. Logistic regression was performed to calculate prevalence of PPD and its association with several risk factors. The significance level was defined at 5%. The prevalence of PPD was 15.9% (IC 9.7% to 24.0%). According to the multivariate analyses, the variables of coping with distancing, number of children and ethnic origin were significant. There were no association between PPD and LE. The depressed puerperal women have a low educational level, greater number of children and resort to inadequate coping strategies, such as distancing. This pattern of coping might be an etiological factor of the PPD as well as a reaction to their difficult life environment.     

Stressful life events, psychological appraisal and coping style in postmenopausal women

Objectives

The study aim was to investigate what life events postmenopausal women attending a menopause clinic, report as stressful and how psychological appraisal of these events, menopausal symptoms and general stress mediate coping style.

Methods

An observational design was used to recruit 179 postmenopausal women attending a menopause clinic for the first time. Data was collected using self-report questionnaires assessing socio-demographic information, menopausal symptoms, perceived stress, named stressful event, psychological appraisal and coping styles employed.

Results

All of the women were postmenopausal, with a mean age of 50.74 years (SD = 4.75). Stressful events were categorised into family problems, menopause symptoms, work problems, daily hassles and other health problems. The most commonly reported coping styles were in order, catharsis (68%), direct action (66%), and seeking social support (63%). Logistic regression was used to determine what predicts coping style. Socio-demographic variables, menopausal symptoms and general stress levels were not predictive of coping styles in this study. Specific aspects of psychological appraisal were predictive of distraction, direct action, catharsis and seeking social support.

Conclusions

Coping styles most commonly implemented were also the ones predicted by psychological appraisal of the stressful event in this study and tend to be used more so by older women. This information could be used to develop more appropriate interventions for postmenopausal women.     

大学新生学校适应与家庭功能、社会支持及应对方式

目的:研究大学新生学校适应与家庭功能、社会支持及应对方式的关系。方法:采用方便取样,从北京市3所高校选取368名新生。采用家庭功能评定量表、领悟社会支持量表、简易应对方式问卷和新生学校适应量表进行调查,并利用结构方程模型进行分析。结果:结构方程模型表明,家庭功能不仅直接影响大学新生学校适应(路径系数为-0.223),还通过社会支持、应对方式产生间接影响(路径系数为-0.548~0.277),均P0.01。模型拟合较好(χ2=13.566,df=3,χ2/df=4.522,NFI=0.998,RFI=0.988,IFI=0.998,TLI=0.990,CFI=0.998,RMSEA=0.098)。家庭功能对学校适应影响的总效应值为-0.451,其中直接效应和间接效应分别为-0.223和-0.228。结论:社会支持和应对方式在家庭功能与大学新生学校适应的关系中起中介作用。     

Depersonalization, fantasies, and coping behavior in clinical context

The main purpose of the present study was to determine the relation between specific dissociative experiences (depersonalization, fantasies) and self-reported coping behavior in a clinical (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia) and nonclinical sample (normal adults). Dissociative experiences were assessed with the Questionnaire of Experiences of Dissociation (QED) of Riley (1988) and coping behavior with the Stress-Process Questionnaire (SPQ; Janke, Erdmann, & Boucsein, 1985). A factor analysis of the QED items revealed a two-factor extraction: Factor 1 "depersonalization" and Factor 2 "fantasies/daydreams." The clinical group scored higher on the QED factor "depersonalization" and had more passive forms of coping behavior (resignation, social isolation, self-compassion, self-blame) than the normal adults. Similar correlation patterns were found for both groups: The QED factor "depersonalization" correlated highly with the coping behaviors "resignation," "social isolation," "self-blame," "self-compassion," and "rumination." No correlation between Factor 2 "fantasies/daydreams" and the coping behavior was found. Finally, correlations between depersonalization, trait anxiety, and personal need for structure were reported.     

Cardiac coping style,heartbeat detection,and the interpretation of cardiac events

Objectives. Vigilance to, and avoidance of, cardiac sensations and symptoms were explored in three studies. Design and methods. In the first study, a self-report measure of cardiac vigilance and cardiac avoidance, the Cardiac Coping Inventory (CCI), was administered to 453 students, and its factor structure, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were established. In the second, 31 undergraduates completed the CCI, and their cardioceptive sensitivity was measured on a heartbeat detection task. In a third study of 91 patients with suspected myocardial infarction, the role of coping styles in symptom interpretations was analysed. Results. Cardiac avoidance and vigilance were independent of general symptom reporting tendencies. Cardiac vigilance was negatively correlated with heartbeat detection. Among the patients, delay in seeking treatment was predicted by the perceived importance of chest pain, which was influenced by the intensity of chest pain and cardiac vigilance. Conclusions. Although individuals high in cardiac vigilance do not seem to be good detectors of their heartbeats in the laboratory, they appear to attach importance to heart symptoms in real life, resulting in a health-protective behaviour.     

Sickle cell disease pain: relation of coping strategies to adjustment

This study examines pain coping strategies in a relatively neglected pain population, sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. Seventy-nine patients diagnosed with SCD were given a structured interview to assess pain, activity level, and health care use during painful episodes. Patients also completed the SCL-90-R as an index of psychological distress and the Coping Strategies Questionnaire. Regression analyses controlled for age, sex, and disease severity measures. Results indicated that the coping strategies factors were important predictors of pain and adjustment. Individuals high on Negative Thinking and Passive Adherence had more severe pain, were less active and more distressed, and used more health care services. Individuals high on Coping Attempts were more active during painful episodes.     

Tests of gender feelings and behavior in homosexuality, transvestism and transsexualism.

Categorized 64 male transsexual and transvestite Ss into two groups on the basis of the strength of their feminine gender identity. The two groups were compared to a homosexual group and a control group on four tests designed to measure gender feelings and behavior, namely: the California Personality Inventory Femininity Scale, the Draw-A-Person test, the Franck Drawing Completion test, and the Information and Vocabulary subtests of the WAIS. It was found that the CPI-Fe scale and DAP test significantly correlate with the degree of feminine gender identity reported by the Ss. However, the two tests appear to measure different aspects of gender feelings and behavior in some Ss.     

A regret theory approach to decision curve analysis: A novel method for eliciting decision makers' preferences and decision-making

Background  

Decision curve analysis (DCA) has been proposed as an alternative method for evaluation of diagnostic tests, prediction models, and molecular markers. However, DCA is based on expected utility theory, which has been routinely violated by decision makers. Decision-making is governed by intuition (system 1), and analytical, deliberative process (system 2), thus, rational decision-making should reflect both formal principles of rationality and intuition about good decisions. We use the cognitive emotion of regret to serve as a link between systems 1 and 2 and to reformulate DCA.     

Optimism,coping style and emotional well‐being in cardiac patients

Objective. Optimism is associated with superior emotional well‐being in people with chronic and acute health problems, possibly because optimists are more likely to implement problem‐focused coping. Another interpretation posits that optimism can be a defensive response designed to diminish affective reactions to health problems. The study objective is to investigate this possibility. Design. A cross‐sectional examination of relationships between dispositional and relative optimism, threat avoidance and emotional well‐being in 85 cardiac patients. Results. Blunting, a measure of threat avoidance, was found to be associated with both optimism and emotional well‐being, and the common variance was predictive of positive affect. As expected, this link was stronger in people with low self‐efficacy for problem‐focused coping. Conclusion. These findings support a defensive interpretation of optimism amongst patients with recently‐experienced cardiac disease, particularly as the effect was more pronounced in the low self‐efficacy subsample. We discuss possible explanations for these findings and implications for the study of coping with serious illness.     

Depersonalization,fantasies, and coping behavior in clinical context*

The main purpose of the present study was to determine the relation between specific dissociative experiences (depersonalization, fantasies) and self‐reported coping behavior in a clinical (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia) and nonclinical sample (normal adults). Dissociative experiences were assessed with the Questionnaire of Experiences of Dissociation (QED) of Riley (1988) and coping behavior with the Stress‐Process Questionnaire (SPQ; Janke, Erdmann, & Boucsein, 1985). A factor analysis of the QED items revealed a two‐factor extraction: Factor 1 “depersonalization” and Factor 2 “fantasies/daydreams.” The clinical group scored higher on the QED factor “depersonalization” and had more passive forms of coping behavior (resignation, social isolation, self‐compassion, self‐blame) than the normal adults. Similar correlation patterns were found for both groups: The QED factor “depersonalization” correlated highly with the coping behaviors “resignation,” “social isolation,” “self‐blame,” “self‐compassion,” and “rumination.” No correlation between Factor 2 “fantasies/daydreams” and the coping behavior was found. Finally, correlations between depersonalization, trait anxiety, and personal need for structure were reported. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol, 2003.