Using self-compassion to grow in the face of trauma: The role of positive reframing and problem-focused coping strategies.

This study explored the association between social support, resilience and coping strategies among patients with liver cancer and evaluated the extent to which patients' use of various coping strategies can be explained by social support and resilience. This cross-sectional study comprised 119 patients who experienced transarterial chemoembolization related to liver cancer and who completed the Social Support Scale, the Resilience Scale and the Ways of Coping Checklist-Revised. Results indicated a significant positive correlation between social support and use of problem-focused coping strategies and overall coping strategies. In addition, results showed a significant positive correlation between resilience and use of problem-focused strategies, emotion-focused strategies and overall coping strategies. Social support accounted for 14% of variance in use of problem-focused strategies and 7.6% of the variance in overall coping strategies. Resilience accounted for 30.5% of the variance in use of problem-focused strategies, 8.5% in use of emotion-focused strategies and 21.6% of overall coping strategies. Results of this study highlight the importance of social support and resilience in patients' coping strategies related to liver cancer treatment.

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between coping and health problems in the context of gender and level in the organization. Questionnaire data were collected from 279 women and men (100 managers and 179 non-managers) at a sales department in a Swedish telecom company in which men and women worked at similar tasks. It was hypothesized that, if gender and level in the organization were controlled for, the use of problem-focused strategies would be associated with fewer health problems and the use of emotion-focused strategies with greater health problems. It was also predicted that men and women at a similar organizational level would not differ in their use of problem-focused coping strategies. The results showed, contrary to the hypothesis, that when level and gender were controlled for, no relation between problem-focused strategies and health was obtained. Instead the emotion-focused strategy of Seeking emotional support was associated with fewer health problems, whereas Focus on emotions and Alcohol/drug disengagement were associated with more symptoms. Coping was at least partly related to level. At a managerial level the men and the women used basically the same strategies whereas at a non-managerial level traditionally-conceived coping patterns were evident.

Background: The incidence of heart failure continues to rise in the United States, with more than 600,000 new cases diagnosed each year. The progressive nature of heart failure predisposes individuals to physical and psychological sequelae, including physical activity intolerance and depressive symptoms. Coping is beneficial in assisting individuals to live with heart failure. Evidence suggests that how individuals cope with heart failure may influence heart failure-related outcomes, such as psychological well-being, self-care, health-related quality of life, and mortality. Thus, a better under- standing of coping styles can assist clinicians and researchers to develop interventions that improve heart failure outcomes. Purpose: To provide a systematic review and synthesis of evidence regarding the influence of coping styles in HF. A conceptualization of coping commonly used in heart failure-related literature within the context of stress and cognitive appraisal of stress is described. In addition, this review will identify what is known about: (1) individual factors that influence coping styles in heart failure; (2) the influence of coping styles on heart failure-related outcomes; and (3) interventions that promote effective (e.g., problem-focused) coping in heart failure. Methodological issues associated with this empirical literature and implications for clinicians and research also were discussed. Methods: This article provides a systematic review of current empirical evidence regarding the influence of coping styles on heart failure-related outcomes. Results: This review of empirical literature revealed several factors that may influence coping style in individuals with HF, including co-morbidities, personality, illness knowledge and beliefs, and sense of coherence. Additionally, the use of problem-focused coping strategies was found to be related to positive HF outcomes, such as psychological well-being, enhanced self-care, and improved health-related quality of life. Whereas, the use of emotion-focused coping strategies was found to be associated with negative HF outcomes, such as psychological distress, decreased health-related quality of life, and increased HF-related mortality. Although limited, experimental work in this area suggests that problem-focused coping strategies may be beneficial in improving HF-related outcomes. Conclusions: Effective coping aids the successful management of heart failure, specifically the management of associated physical symptoms and psychological sequelae that may result. Problem-focused strategies may be more beneficial than emotion-focused strategies in assisting individuals to cope with heart failure and improve heart failure outcomes, such as psychological well-being, self-care, and health-related quality of life. Conversely, emotion-focused strategies may nega- tively influence heart failure outcomes, such as psychological distress, decreased health-related quality of life, and heart failure-related mortality. Therefore, nurses should include problem-focused coping strategies in patient and family education. Research on the effectiveness of problem-focused strategies is sparse, thus more experimental studies, particularly longitudinal designs, is warranted to determine the efficacy of problem-focused interventions throughout the progression of heart failure.

Secondary traumatization and post-traumatic growth have been recognized as psychological reactions that might occur among the medical staff in general, and among nurses in particular. Nurses in the field of medical rehabilitative care might reveal such reactions as their work involves stress and traumatic situations. Coping strategies might either alleviate or exacerbate work-related stress experienced by nurses. The aims of the current study were to explore the link between secondary traumatization and post-traumatic growth exhibited by nurses in the field of medical rehabilitative care, and to examine the link between problem-focused coping strategies and emotion-focused coping strategies to secondary traumatization and post-traumatic growth. One hundred and fifty-three rehabilitative nurses completed self-report questionnaires regarding personal data, post-traumatic growth, secondary traumatization, ways of coping strategies and personal negative life events. Correlation matrix for the path analysis model revealed positive significant correlation between secondary traumatization and post-traumatic growth. Both, problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping strategies were linked to secondary traumatization and post-traumatic growth. Nurses employed in a medical rehabilitation hospital who cope via problem-focused strategies as well as emotion-focused strategies in their work, might reveal secondary traumatization but might simultaneously benefit from post-traumatic growth.

BackgroundThis study provided essential information, about Turkish patients with type I and type II diabetes, concerning: levels of anxiety, coping strategies used, and relationships that exist among anxiety, coping strategies, sociodemographic and medical characteristics.MethodsA sample comprising 161 Turkish adults with both types of diabetes participated in the study. The trait anxiety scale, the brief COPE, sociodemographic and medical questionnaire were administered to patients with diabetes.ResultsThe mean age was 49.01 (SD = 9.74), with a range from 20 to 60 years. The majority of the participants were female (60.9%) and type II diabetes (75.8%). 79% of the participants experienced anxiety. A clear majority of the participants reported to integrate their diabetes. Acceptance, religion, planning, positive reframing, instrumental support, emotional support, self-distraction and venting were the most frequently used coping strategies. The most frequently used problem-focused and the emotion-focused coping strategies were found to be similar in both type I and type II diabetes. However, participants with type II diabetes had relatively higher scores on the problem-focused strategies than those with type I. Participants with type I diabetes used humour, venting and self-blame more than those with type II diabetes. Other findings indicated that only a small minority responded to diabetes-related problems by denial, behavioural disengagement and substance use. Significant correlations were found among anxiety, coping strategies and sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. Moreover, Self-blame was found to be correlated significantly with both the problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. Self-blame was also significantly correlated with both instrumental support and emotional support indicated that higher self-blame caused more frequent use of instrumental and emotional support by patients with diabetes.ConclusionThe findings of this study indicate that care for patients with diabetes should address their physical, psychological, social and economic wellbeing and the findings point to the importance of taking individual coping strategies into account when evaluating the impact of diabetes on psychosocial wellbeing. Because of the mean of anxiety were not in normal range, for this study, health professionals need to pay attention to patient's psychological state. This is especially true for patients who are likely to use self-blame and behavioural disengagement as a coping strategy. Through psychosocial interventions, professionals need to assist patients in establishing positive self evaluations. Delineation of coping strategies might be useful for identifying patients in need of particular counselling and support.

Objectives: To compare locus of control and coping strategies in older persons with and without depression.Method: This cross-sectional study included 144 depressed in-patients from seven psychogeriatric hospital units, and 106 community-dwelling older persons without depression. All participants were 60 years and older. Locus of control was assessed by a 17-items self-report questionnaire with six response categories. Coping strategies were assessed by a 26-items self-report questionnaire with five response categories. For analytical purposes, age (<75 years vs. ≥75 years), level of education (<10 years vs. ≥10 years) and general medical health (poor vs. not poor) were categorized.Results: In linear regression analysis, controlling for demographics, health, and social variables, the depressed in-patients showed a higher external locus of control orientation and a less frequent use of problem-focused coping strategies compared with the non-depressed group. No differences in use of emotion-focused strategies were found between the two groups.Conclusion: Compared with the non-depressed old persons, the depressed hospitalized older persons were characterized by perceptions of less personal control, and less use of problem-focused strategies, what also might have brought positive alterations into their situation.

This paper is a report of a study to explore the relationship between ways of coping, anxiety level and quality of life for patients after coronary artery bypass grafting. Coronary artery bypass grafting requires appropriate coping strategies to achieve successful adaptation. In Taiwan, the incidence of this surgery is increasing, but research on adaptation following surgery is limited, with no research examining outcomes for women, who often have poorer adaptation outcomes than men. An integrated research design, based on Lazarus and Folkman's transaction coping theory, was used. The research employed convenience sampling with four instruments: the Revised Ways of Coping Checklist, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Short Form 36-Health Survey, and a demographic questionnaire, sent to 50 men and 50 women who were recruited from a medical centre in Taiwan. Additionally, qualitative data from interviews with three men and three women, who had completed the instruments, were analysed. Better quality of life was associated with lower anxiety level, greater use of problem-focused coping strategies and those who had more gender role responsibility. Women scored lower on the physical dimensions of quality of life, used more self-blaming coping strategies and experienced slightly higher levels of anxiety compared to men. The qualitative analysis supported the conclusions of the quantitative analysis. The results will help nurses design specific interventions intended to lower anxiety levels, promote the use of problem-focused strategies and identify patients' values, necessary to achieve optimal quality of life.

Studies have indicated that trauma exposure is a common factor in posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) and posttraumatic growth (PTG), but it is unclear whether PTSSs and PTG share a common underlying mechanism related to trauma exposure. To explore this issue, this study examined the mediating role of feelings of safety, hope, and coping strategies between trauma exposure and both PTSSs and PTG to elucidate differences in their underlying mechanisms. One year following the Jiuzhaigou earthquake in Sichuan province, China, 620 adolescents were selected to answer self-report questionnaires, and a structural equation model was used to test the hypotheses. Trauma exposure was positively associated with PTSSs by two 1-step indirect paths of feelings of safety and emotion-focused coping strategies, and by two 2-step indirect paths of feelings of safety to both hope and emotion-focused coping strategies. Trauma exposure was positively associated with PTG by a 1-step indirect path of problem-focused coping strategies but negatively associated with PTG by two 2-step indirect paths of feelings of safety to both hope and problem-focused coping strategies, and by one 3-step indirect path of feelings of safety to hope to problem-focused coping strategies. Trauma exposure is common to PTSSs and PTG but affects these differently via feelings of safety, feelings of hope, and coping strategies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

No study to date has evaluated the relationship between coping style, burnout, and psychological functioning among gastroenterologists (GEs). This study aims to explore this relationship. Physician stress and burnout are widely studied and associated with notably poorer outcomes for both physicians and their patients. Coping is a multidimensional construct that individuals use to adapt to stressful situations. To mitigate stress, physicians may use problem-focused or emotion-focused coping strategies. Four hundred ten GE fellows and attending physicians provided information about their practice, coping styles, level of burnout, psychological distress, job-related self-efficacy, and demographic background. Participants recruited from the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy membership through email completed a series of online questionnaires. We found no significant relationships between workload and reported burnout. GEs with greater psychological distress were more likely to have an endoscopic complication in the past year. GEs that use problem-focused coping strategies were less likely to report an event in the past year, although we did not identify a significant predictive relationship between these variables. Significant differences in coping styles existed for sex and having a physician parent. Female GEs were more likely to use problem-focused coping strategies, and GEs with a physician parent were more likely to use emotion-focused strategies. Using problem-focused coping predicted decreased levels of burnout and psychological distress, and increased job-related self-efficacy. Emotion-focused coping showed opposite predictive results. Coping strategies accounted for 3% to 19% of the variance in these outcomes. GEs use both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. Sex and having a physician parent are likely predictors of coping and psychological well-being. Problem-focused coping is a potentially more adaptive coping strategy in gastroenterology practice and may explain lower levels of reported burnout, distress, and increased job-related self-efficacy.

Objective. This study aimed to determine the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students, categorically focusing on effective coping strategies adopted. Methods. The researcher used a descriptive cross-sectional design and a pseudo-random number sampling method with an inversion technique to randomly select 548 health science students who participated fully out of the sum of 4,140 students from each department. The initial goal was to include 572 students in the sample. This ensured a fair representation of students from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The researcher evaluated these students using the COVID-19 Student Stress Questionnaire and Brief-Cope Scales. Results. Findings showed that 58.8% of the respondents were females, 34.7% were enrolled in the nursing program, and 59.7% chose to live with their parents. Most of the students experienced moderate stress, with 45.25% and 5.47% experiencing extremely stressful or distressing situations, in terms of relationships and academic life, respectively. There were no significant differences in fear of contagion, regardless of the students' gender. and social isolation between students who lived with and without their parents. In terms of relationships and academic life among the students, there was no significant difference in relation to the demographic characteristics. Results also showed that 26.6% of the students used problem-focused coping “a little bit," and there was no significant difference as to their developmental characteristics for those using problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, or avoidant coping. However, the results indicated a greater tendency towards avoidant coping strategies, with no significant differences observed. Students disproportionately adopted problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidant coping strategies. Students reported a weakly significant positive correlation between emotionfocused coping and problem-focused coping, and a large negative association between fear of contagion and problem-focused coping strategies. They also reported a slightly positive correlation between relationships, academic life, and social isolation. Conclusion. The study revealed that most students experience moderate stress, which gradually escalates into extremely stressful situations, particularly in relationships and academics. The researcher found no significant differences in fear of contagion or social isolation. However, avoidant coping was more prevalent compared to problem-focused and emotion-focused strategies. There were weak positive correlations between emotion-focused and problem-focused coping. Policy reform in the health and academic systems will strategically improve students' mental health.

ABSTRACTA growing body of research has examined the subsequent negative psychosocial changes and the related stress reactions in amputee military veterans. Although these studies help characterize the harmful effects of combat-related amputation, little research has examined factors that may enhance posttraumatic growth (PTG)—positive life changes experienced—as a result of amputation in this population. The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between PTG, sociodemographic factors, amputation-related variables, and coping strategies in 106 Turkish military veterans (Mage = 23.40 ± 2.62 years) injured in combat operations with lower-limb amputations. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that problem-focused coping strategies were significant predictors of PTG. Sociodemographic and amputation-related factors did not contribute to PTG. The favorable effects of certain coping strategies, such as religion, acceptance, planning, and active coping, and the negative effects of other coping strategies, such as denial and behavioral disengagement, suggest the potential benefits of interventions to reduce reliance on emotion-focused coping and stimulate more problem-focused strategies to coping with difficulties and challenges to facilitate PTG. Future studies should explore the role of social environmental variables (such as family functioning and support, attitudes toward veterans, etc.), in addition to personal resources, in fostering PTG in amputee veterans.

(1) Background: Patients’ behavioral attempts in dealing with Multiple sclerosis (MS) play an important role in post-traumatic growth (PTG). In a longitudinal study, we aimed to identify coping strategies predicting PTG. (2) Methods: 260 MS patients answered the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory and the Brief COPE Questionnaire at three time points during a 36-month follow-up period. (3) Results: an interaction effect between PTG level and assessment time was found for emotional support, positive reframing, active coping, and planning coping strategies. Positive reframing, emotional support, instrumental support, religion, planning, and self-distraction positively predicted PTG. (4) Conclusions: to encourage PTG development, early interventions in MS patients are recommended to promote adaptive coping, particularly positive reframing, social support, active coping, planning, religion, and self-distraction.

Background/Objective: Informal caregiving for individuals with severe mental disorders (SMDs) often leads to significant psychological distress. However, the specific coping strategies that determine mental health outcomes among siblings remain poorly understood. This study aimed to analyze the predictive capacity of various coping strategies regarding health, perceived stress, self-esteem, and caregiving experience for siblings. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of siblings of patients with SMDs (N = 60) from mental health service. Self-report measures were used to assess perceived health, perceived stress, self-esteem, coping strategies, and caregiving experience. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed for each dependent variable, controlling for collinearity. Results: The siblings reported a higher mean use of problem-focused coping strategies compared to emotion-focused coping strategies. Regression models were statistically significant for all analyzed variables, except for somatic symptoms. Emotion-focused maladaptive coping (EFMC) strategies emerged as the most consistent and powerful predictor, showing a significant association with positive caregiving appraisal (β = 0.657), depression (β = 0.500), poor health (β = 0.453), negative stress (β = 0.449), social dysfunction (β = 0.429), self-esteem (β = -0.390), and anxiety (β = 0.368). In contrast, problem-focused strategies were largely non-significant, except for an association with positive and negative aspects of caregiving (βPFMC = 0.509, βPFMC = 0.312, respectively), and positive stress (βPFAC = -0.272). Conclusions: These results suggest that while siblings of people with SMDs report a greater use of problem-focused coping strategies, the adoption of EFMC strategies is the most detrimental factor observed, given their negative influence on mental health, self-esteem, and caregiving experience.

Background and aims: Post-traumatic growth refers to the positive psychological changes experienced after an incident. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is seen as a traumatic incident that impacts many aspects of a person's life. The present study aimed to investigate the association between perceived social support and mental health with the post-traumatic growth model through the mediating role of coping strategies in COVID-19 recovered patients. Methods: This study was conducted using a path analysis method from the correlation matrix. The research population included all COVID-19 recovered patients in Golestan Province. Using the convenience sampling method, 300 patients who recovered from COVID-19 were selected. The research instruments included the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, the General Health Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. The data was analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM) using SPSS and AMOS software version 25. Results: The findings revealed that the suggested model fit the data. The relationship between post-traumatic growth, perceived social support, and mental health with problem-focused coping strategies were positive and significant (P&lt;0.01). The relations between mental health and perceived social support with post-traumatic growth were positive and significant. Post-traumatic growth and perceived social support had a negative and significant relationship with emotion-focused strategies (P&lt;0.01). Furthermore, the relationship between mental health and emotion-focused strategies was not significant. Conclusion: Mental health, perceived social support, and problem-focused strategies play an essential role in COVID-19 patients' post-traumatic growth. As a result, they might be helpful in minimizing the psychological impact of COVID-19.

ABSTRACTA history of childhood trauma exposure has been linked to the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms in adulthood following new exposure. Unhealthy coping behaviors that could develop or be utilized in response to early trauma could lend themselves to psychological issues in adulthood. Emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies in relation to stressful duty-related situations are examined as indirect pathways through which childhood trauma exposure could be associated with duty-related posttraumatic stress symptoms in 911 telecommunicators (N = 808). Multiple mediation models revealed that 3 of the 4 emotion-focused coping strategies, but not the problem-focused strategies, functioned as significant mediators in the association between childhood exposure and duty-related posttraumatic stress symptoms. Pairwise comparisons showed that self-controlling and escape-avoidance strategies were the strongest pathways of the indirect childhood trauma exposure–posttraumatic stress symptoms association. Implications of results regarding coping in response to new traumatic events in adulthood and potential research and intervention directions are discussed.