Coping styles and depression among psychiatric outpatients

Abstract

The present investigation examined the relationships among coping styles and depressive symptomatology in a sample of adult psychiatric outpatients. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess depressive symptomatology. The Multidimensional Coping Inventory, a preliminary version of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, was employed to assess coping styles. Twenty-six individuals completed the above inventories immediately prior to attending their first appointments at a community mental health clinic. Results revealed significant negative correlations between level of depressive symptomatology and both task and avoidance oriented coping styles, and a significant positive correlation between the former variable and emotion oriented coping style. These results were consistent with previous research findings with respect to task and emotion oriented coping styles.