Impact of sense of coherence on coping style in patients with AIDS

Abstract

Objective To explore the impact of sense of coherence on coping style in patients with AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). Methods The general data, sense of coherence and coping style of 80 patients with AIDS were evaluated by the sense of coherence scale (SOC-13) and medical coping modes questionnaire. The correlation between sense of coherence and coping style in patients with AIDS was analyzed. Results The average score of sense of coherence was (63.6±10.3), the highest score of the 3 dimensions was comprehensibility (5.0±1.1), followed by meaningfulness and manageability[ (4.8±0.9) vs (4.7±1.0)]. The score of confronce, avoidance and resignation in medical coping modes questionnaire was (2.2±0.5), (2.2±0.3) and (2.0±0.6). The score of confronce in patients with AIDS was lower than the norm, and the score of avoidance and resignation were higher than the norm. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). There was positive correlation between confronce and comprehensibility, meaningfulness, sense of coherence (P<0.05). The avoidance and manageability showed a negative correlation (P<0.01). There was negative correlation between resignation and manageability, comprehensibility, meaningfulness, sense of coherence (P<0.01). Conclusions The senses of coherence in patients with AIDS need to be improved, and nurses should provide personal interventions to make the patients take positive coping styles. Key words: AIDS; Sense of coherence; Coping style