Avoidance-focused Coping Research Articles

PTSD Symptoms and Problematic Smartphone Use in Young Adults Are Indirectly Associated Via Avoidance-Focused Coping

PTSD Symptoms and Problematic Smartphone Use in Young Adults Are Indirectly Associated Via Avoidance-Focused Coping

Coping With Side Effects: A Daily Diary Study in Women With Breast Cancer Living With Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy.

Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) is increasingly being prescribed for up to 10years to people diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. AET intake is often accompanied by side effects that significantly impact the well-being of people. The way individuals cope with medication-related side effects might play a pivotal role in their emotional adaption. This intensive-longitudinal study investigated the association between self-reported coping strategies (Brief COPE) and psychological well-being (Patient Health Questionnaire-4) among women undergoing AET. A multilevel factor analysis resulted in the identification of four coping factors, namely, problem-focused, support-focused, meaning-focused, and avoidance-focused coping. Daily coping efforts and experienced side effects were analyzed as predictors of psychological well-being using multilevel modeling. A total of 215 women (Mage=56.5±10.9years) participated, resulting in a total of n=2080 daily surveys (M=9.67±1.08). On average, women reported 3.7±2.2 different side effects per day. Days characterized by an elevated frequency of side effects and increased burden were associated with diminished well-being. Using more problem- and meaning-focused strategies than usual to cope with side effects correlated positively with well-being. Conversely, employing more support- and avoidance-focused coping strategies than usual was linked to reduced psychological well-being. Exploratory analyses focusing on individual coping strategies provided nuanced insights into coping behaviors. The present findings underscore the relationship between women's coping efforts concerning medication-related side effects during AET and their daily well-being. Psychosocial education (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy) may offer valuable benefits for patients by helping them develop adaptive coping strategies to manage side effects.

유아교사의 대인관계 스트레스와 심리적 안녕감과의 관계

Objectives This study investigated the relation between interpersonal stress and psychological well-being of infant teachers in Korea, focusing on moderating effects of stress coping style.
 Methods The participants were 232 infant teachers who agreed to participate in this study. The measures included interpersonal stress questionnaires, psychological well-being questionnaires, and stress coping style questionnaires. The moderating effects were examined through hierarchical regression, after controlling the control variables.
 Results Interpersonal stress was negatively related to psychological well-being. Among stress coping styles, problem-focused coping and avoidance-focused coping were positively related to on psychological well-being, while emotion-focused coping was negatively related to psychological well-being. It was found that avoidance- focused coping style had a moderating effect on the relation between interpersonal stress and psychological well-being.
 Conclusions The results will serve as basic data for developing interventions to improve the psychological well-being of early childhood teachers in Korea, helping us understand the relation between these variables and the moderating effect of stress coping styles.

WAYS OF COPING WITH STRESS AMONG UKRAINIANS DEPENDING ON THE INTENSITY OF THE SHELLING

The article presents the results of theoretical and empirical research on the impact of the shelling intensivity on the choice of coping strategy and on the level of stress resistance of civilians. Based on the empirical research, it was proven that Ukrainians who are exposed to the shelling have a higher level of stress resistance than those living without shelling. It was stated that in a war situation, Ukrainians have a task-focused coping strategy. There is avoidance-focused coping on the second place, and on the third place there is emotion-focused coping. However, these strategies are more preferable for individuals who live in the settlements without shelling. In contrast, the socially distracting coping strategy is more frequently choosed by those individuals, who live in settlements uder shelling attacks. People living in places without shelling are more likely to use the «Engagement» strategy. At the same time, people from settlements uder shelling attacks are more inclined to choose «Control» and «Risk» strategies.

Anxiety, Depression, Coping Styles, and Perceived Social Support Among University Students: A Mediation and Moderation Analyses

This study examined the association between anxiety, depression, social support, and coping strategies, particularly among higher education students undergoing a distinct developmental transition phase and confronting substantial difficulties. A quantitative approach utilizing inquiry techniques such as surveys and experiments was used with a sample of six hundred eighty-five (685) higher education students enrolled at a State University. Based on the results, the researcher concluded that higher education students exhibited moderate levels of anxiety and depression. The study identified that these students engage moderately in problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidance-focused coping, showing diverse strategies to address stress. They also reported moderate perceived social support, emphasizing the importance of relationships with family, friends, and significant others. A significant positive relationship was found between elevated anxiety levels and increased depressive symptoms. Coping styles were significant in mediating the impact of anxiety on depression, with problem-focused coping being a major mediator. Emotion-focused and avoidance-focused coping also significantly mediated this relationship. Contrary to expectations, perceived social support did not significantly moderate the relationship between anxiety and depression. Family support showed a trend toward moderating the anxiety-depression relationship, suggesting a potential influence that needs further exploration. Support from friends and significant others, such as romantic partners and mentors, did not significantly affect this relationship, indicating that these types of support may not be crucial in this context.

Coping Patterns and Psychosocial Distress in Hemophilia Patients: A Cross-sectional Study from South Gujarat, India

Abstract Introduction: Hemophilia is hereditary genetic disorder with defects in normal blood clotting mechanisms. It is characterized by a chronic course requiring lifelong treatment. Persons with hemophilia (PWH) are known to have significant stress due to socio-occupational impairments caused due to the illness. It affects the treatment outcomes adversely. There are few studies from India that have looked at the factors and prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in this population. Aim: To study coping patterns, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression profiles in adult patients of hemophilia. Materials and Methods: A purposive sample of 52 PWH was collected. We used a semi-structured questionnaire to obtain demographic data, illness profiles, and experience of complications and concerns of the participants. Scales used were Beck’s depression inventory, Anxiety scale, Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale scale, and COPE questionnaire. Results: About 41% of the individuals had depression and 26.92% of individuals had trait anxiety. The state-dependent anxiety was seen in 69%. About 50% were found to be susceptible to stress-related illness. The adaptive coping style, namely, problem-focused coping, was associated with lower scores on the screening instruments. The presence of certain complications was associated with higher use of maladaptive coping strategies like the use of emotion and avoidance-focused coping. Conclusions: Considering the impact and morbidity, screening for psychological distress and analysis of coping styles of PWH should be a part of routine care.

Athletes' Coping With the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Self-Compassion and Cognitive Appraisal.

Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic had implications for athletes' mental well-being. This mixed-methods study examined the influence of self-compassion on athletes' coping during the pandemic through the mediator of cognitive appraisal. The prospective design involved 90 athletes completing two online surveys 1 week apart measuring self-compassion, cognitive appraisal, and coping strategies. The PROCESS macro was used for the mediation analysis. A qualitative thematic analysis was used to explore athletes' responses to the pandemic during the second survey. Self-compassion had an indirect negative effect on avoidance-focused coping by appraising the pandemic as less of a threat (95% confidence interval [-0.20, -0.001]) and had a total effect on emotion-focused coping (95% confidence interval [0.02, 0.40]). Based on the thematic analysis, athletes described many raw emotions and a variety of coping strategies during the pandemic. Self-compassion demonstrated promising benefits to athletes who dealt with the challenging situation of the pandemic.

Prevalence and Correlates of Physical Inactivity Among Individuals with HIV During the First COVID-19 Wave: A Cross-sectional Survey.

Physical activity is associated with improved health outcomes among people with HIV (PWH). In the recent pandemic context, policies designed to mitigate COVID-19 transmission may result in an increase in sedentary lifestyle and decreased physical activity. In this study, we aimed to characterize self-reported physical activity and factors associated with physical inactivity during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of PWH engaged in care. We also described whether psychological coping strategies measured by the Brief COPE differed based on physical activity levels. Among 260 surveyed PWH in two HIV clinics in the US Northeast, 28.5% (n = 74) met the criteria for being physically active according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s physical activity guidelines. Receiving care in New Haven, CT, presence of a detectable HIV viral load, every day tobacco use, and unhealthy alcohol use were associated with physical inactivity. Problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and avoidance-focused coping strategies were found to be protective against physical inactivity. In adjusted analysis, only problem-focused coping continued to be significantly associated with lower odds of reporting physical inactivity. Efforts are urgently needed to promote physical activity among PWH, including among those without problem-focused coping strategies.

Basic Psychological Needs, Coping, and Psychological Distress Among Orphans Living in Orphan

The purpose of the study is to explore the relationship of basic psychological needs, coping, and psychological distress among orphans living in orphanages. To examine the relationship between these variables quantitative method was used. A convenient sampling technique was used to collect the data. The sample consisted of 200 orphans of which 153 was male and 47 was female. The data was collected with the help of self-report measures i.e., Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (B`1234PNSF) by Van der Kaap-Deeder (2015), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS-21) by Somia (2020) and DASS-21 by Aslam (2017). The data was analyzed on the SPSS 26 version. There was a significant relationship between basic psychological needs frustration and psychological distress. Avoidance-focused coping and emotion-focused coping were significant predictors of psychological distress. Psychological distress was positively predicted by avoidance-focused coping and emotion-focused coping.

Psychosocial model of burnout among humanitarian aid workers in Bangladesh: role of workplace stressors and emotion coping

BackgroundWhile trauma exposure is an established predictor of poor mental health among humanitarian aid workers (HAWs), less is known about the role of psychosocial work-related factors. This study aims to establish a psychosocial model for burnout and psychological distress in HAWs that tests and compares the effects of adversity exposure and workplace stressors in combination, and explores the potential mediating role of individual coping styles.MethodsPath analysis and model comparison using cross-sectional online survey data were collected from full-time international and local HAWs in Bangladesh between December 2020 and February 2021. HAWs self-reported on exposure to adversities, workplace psychosocial stressors (Third Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire), coping styles (Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations), burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey), and psychological distress (Kessler-6).ResultsAmong N = 111 HAWs, 30.6%, 16.4%, 12.7%, and 8.2% screened positive for moderate psychological distress (8 ≤ Kessler-6 ≤ 12), emotional exhaustion (EE ≥ 27), depersonalization (DP ≥ 13), and severe psychological distress (K-6 ≥ 13), respectively. 28.8% reported a history of mental disorder. The preferred model showed distinct pathways from adversity exposure and workplace stressors to burnout, with negative emotion-focused coping and psychological distress as significant intervening variables. While greater exposure to both types of stressors were associated with higher levels of burnout and distress, workplace stressors had a stronger association with psychological outcomes than adversity exposure did (β = .52, p ≤ .001 vs. β = .20, p = .032). Workplace stressors, but not adversities, directly influenced psychological distress (β = .45, p ≤ .001 vs. β = −.01, p = .927). Demographic variables, task-focused and avoidance-focused coping were not significantly associated with psychological outcomes.ConclusionsCompared to exposure to adversities, workplace stressors primarily influenced occupational stress syndromes. Reducing workplace stressors and enhancing adaptive coping may improve psychological outcomes in humanitarian staff.

Psychosocial factors and coping strategies associated with alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic

IntroductionThe investigation of alcohol use and its correlates during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is of utmost importance.ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine alcohol use during COVID-19 pandemic, while nationwide lockdowns were in effect in Greece, and its relationship with demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors.MethodsThe study included 378 individuals (225 women) with a mean age of 30.22 years who completed an online questionnaire during the third wave of the pandemic while restriction measures were in effect (March to April 2021). Participants completed Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS).ResultsAccording to the results, alcohol use was negatively associated with COVID-19 fear (p = 0.011), and positively associated with anxiety (p = 0.024), depression (p<0.001) and avoidance-focused coping strategies (p = 0.003). Furthermore, perceived social support emerged as a significant protective factor against alcohol use. Men presented higher alcohol use levels compared to women (p = 0.002). Additionally, individuals identified as problematic users, based on AUDIT scores, displayed increased levels of anxiety (p = 0.028) and depression (p = 0.017) and used avoidance-focused coping strategies to a greater extent (p<0.001). Of note, higher alcohol use was observed in participants who lived alone (p<0.001) and in those whose work status had changed during the pandemic (p = 0.004).ConclusionsOur findings highlight the importance of identifying individuals with problematic alcohol use, as well as recognizing crucial psychosocial factors related to alcohol use especially during the pandemic.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Self-control, coping styles, and alcohol outcomes in college students

Objective: Research indicates that coping styles mediate self-control and health outcomes. Emotion- and problem-focused coping strategies (eg, getting advice or planning) are used to address stressors. In contrast, avoidance-focused strategies (eg, substance use) are used to escape distress and are associated with greater alcohol problems. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between college students’ levels of self-control, coping styles, and alcohol use and problems. Participants and Methods: 183 undergraduates completed questionnaires regarding self-control, coping styles, and alcohol consumption and problems. We hypothesized that self-control would be associated with alcohol problems through avoidance-focused coping, but not emotion- or problem-focused coping. Results: Our results were consistent with our hypothesis with and without controlling for alcohol consumption. Undergraduates lower in self-control who engage in avoidance-focused coping may experience greater alcohol problems. Conclusions: University programs dedicated to addressing substance use among undergraduates may develop workshops that promote problem- or emotion-focused coping strategies as alternatives to avoidance-focused strategies.

The Mediating Effect of Self-Efficacy and Coping Strategy in Relation to Job Stress and Psychological Well-Being of Home-Visiting Care Workers for Elderly during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the mediating effect of self-efficacy and coping strategy in the relationship between job stress and the psychological well-being of care workers. The subjects were 112 home-visiting care workers, and data were collected at four home-visiting nursing centers in a metropolitan city and a small and medium-sized city from July to August 2022. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation co-efficient, multiple linear regression, and Sobel test. The mean score of psychological well-being was 3.33 ± 0.46 out of a possible 5. The subject’s psychological well-being was correlated with self-efficacy (r = 0.64, p < 0.001), problem-solving-focused coping (r = 0.58, p < 0.001), social-support-seeking coping (r = 0.34, p < 0.001), job stress (r = −0.31, p = 0.001), avoidance-focused coping (r = −0.37, p < 0.001). Self-efficacy (Z = −4.92, p < 0.001), problem-solving-focused coping (Z = −2.56, p = 0.010), and avoidance-focused coping (Z = −3.07, p = 0.002) had a mediating effect in the relationship between job stress and psychological well-being of the subjects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on these results, the psychological well-being nursing intervention program for home-visiting care workers need to include job stress, problem-solving-focused coping, and avoidance-focused coping.

In the COVID-19 Era, Effects of Job Stress, Coping Strategies, Meaning in Life and Resilience on Psychological Well-Being of Women Workers in the Service Sector.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors affecting the psychological well-being by using variables of job stress, coping strategies, meaning of life, and resilience to improve the quality of working life during COVID-19. The subjects were 135 adult women working for banks. Data were collected by having the subjects fill out a paper-and-pencil questionnaire, and analyzed through t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. The subjects’ psychological well-being showed positive correlations with the social support-seeking coping mechanism (r = 0.33, p < 0.001), problem-solving-focused coping mechanism (r = 0.55, p < 0.001), meaning in life (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), and resilience (r = 0.37, p < 0.001). Psychological well-being showed negative correlations with job stress (r = −0.44, p < 0.001) and avoidance-focused coping mechanism (r = −0.28, p = 0.001). The factors affecting the psychological well-being were problem-solving-focused coping mechanism (β = 0.35, p < 0.001), job role stress (β = −0.24, p < 0.001), meaning inlife (β = 0.29, p < 0.001), avoidance-focused coping mechanism (β = −0.23, p < 0.001), and resilience (β = 0.15, p = 0.023). It is necessary to formalize psychological intervention to induce the improvement of the quality of work life by increasing the psychological well-being of working women during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is suggested that intervention is made in consideration of variables identified as influencing factors to increase the psychological well-being of women workers.

Coping and rumination as predictors of posttraumatic growth and depreciation

PurposeThe present study examined the joint impact of coping and rumination after trauma on posttraumatic growth (PTG) and posttraumatic depreciation (PTD) based on the PTG model. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2017 and May 2018. A sample of 253 individuals who had experienced a traumatic event in the last two years, was included. Participants completed an online self-reported survey, including demographic variables, trauma characteristics, the German Posttraumatic Growth and Depreciation Inventory – Expanded, the Brief COPE Inventory, and the Event Related Rumination Inventory. An analysis of correlation, a principal component analysis and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. Statistical analyses were undertaken on SPSS (version 25.0; IBM, New York, USA). ResultsAfter controlling for the effects of personal and trauma characteristics, self-sufficient coping and socially supported coping were found to favor the emergence of PTG. Event-related and recent deliberate rumination were positively related to PTG. Avoidant-focused coping and recent intrusive rumination were positively associated with PTD. Overall, the final models accounted for 46% and 58% of the variance in PTG and PTD. ConclusionOur findings confirm the PTG model and support the central role of deliberate rumination, self-sufficient coping and socially supported coping in the development of PTG. Our results indicate that a similar model of PTD with comparable influencing factors can be assumed: if the individual is stuck in ongoing intrusive rumination and uses more avoidance-focused coping, it might lead to more reports of PTD.

Stress Coping Strategies, Burnout, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Compassion Satisfaction Amongst Israeli Dentists: A Cross-sectional Study

ObjectiveBeing a member of the dental profession is often associated with stress and high levels of burnout. Stress coping strategies may significantly help mediate burnout. The present cross-sectional study sought to examine the role of stress coping strategies on burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction amongst Israeli dentists.MethodsThe study was carried out amongst Israeli dentists with the use of the following questionnaires: (1) the Professional Quality of Life Scale 5 (ProQOL), referring to burnout, compassion satisfaction, and level of secondary traumatic stress; (2) the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations–Situation Specific Coping Inventory (CISS-SSC), referring to coping strategies (task-focused, emotion-focused, or avoidance-focused coping); and (3) demographic and professional variables (eg, specialisation, workload). Participants included 243 Israeli dentists. Univariate analyses and linear regressions were conducted to evaluate the relationships amongst coping strategies and burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction.ResultsFemale dentists had higher emotion-focused and avoidance coping scores than male dentists. Burnout could be explained by higher emotion-focused coping scores and lower task-focused and avoidance-focused coping. Secondary traumatic stress could be explained by higher emotion-focused scores, having fewer years of professional experience, and younger ages. Compassion satisfaction could be explained by lower emotion-focused coping as well as by higher task-focused coping and workload scores, specialisation, and gender.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that emotional coping may cause dentists to be vulnerable to burnout and to secondary traumatic stress.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Aptitude Alignment Job Role Study (JRS) for Travel Document Checker (TDC) Position

The current study investigated individual differences and their relationship to performance while fulfilling the Travel Document Checker job role at security screening checkpoints. It is part of a larger effort to understand variability in performance across different job roles that Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) routinely fulfill. Vigilance, task-focused coping and avoidance-focused coping explained the most variance in counterfeit detection. Future efforts should validate these findings and determine individual difference characteristics that are meaningful predictors of performance across other checkpoint job roles.

Relationship between a Stress-Is-Enhancing Mindset and the Psychological Well-Being of Undergraduate Students: Mediating Effects of Problem-Focused Coping, Avoidance-Focused Coping, and Stress Response

Relationship between a Stress-Is-Enhancing Mindset and the Psychological Well-Being of Undergraduate Students: Mediating Effects of Problem-Focused Coping, Avoidance-Focused Coping, and Stress Response

Social support, self-efficacy, cognitive coping and psychological distress in infertile women.

The aims of this research were to investigate the relationship of social support, self-efficacy and cognitive coping with psychological distress, as well as, to determine the mediating role of self-efficacy and cognitive coping between social support and psychological distress in infertile women of Pakistan. This cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit 158 infertile women from six hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. A demographic questionnaire, multidimensional scale of perceivedsocial support, infertility self-efficacy scale, coping strategies questionnaire and depression anxiety stress scale were used to assess the study variables. The results found that significantother, family and friends support was negatively associated with depression, anxiety and stress, however, no relationship was found between friends support and anxiety. Self-efficacy and active-practical coping had negative, whereas, avoidance-focused coping had positive relationship with depression, anxiety and stress. Active-distractive coping was negatively and religious-focused coping was positively associated with depression. Mediation analyses revealed that self-efficacy mediated the effect of social support on depression, anxiety and stress, but no mediation was found between friends support and anxiety. Moreover, avoidance-focused coping mediated the link between social support and depression, as well as, between significant other support and anxiety. Social support, self-efficacy, active-practical coping and active-distractive coping had significant negative associations with psychological distress. Hence, structured programs should be developed to enhance societal acceptance and to reduce the negative attitude of people towards infertility.

Do Coping Strategies Differentially Mediate the Relationship Between Emotional Closeness and Complicated Grief and Depression?

Although complicated grief (CG) following the death of a loved one has traditionally been viewed as avoidance-driven, recent research implicates approach behavior. Researchers have investigated how coping styles predict CG; however, emotional closeness remains unexamined. This study investigated the differential relationship of approach- and avoidance-focused coping on CG and depressive symptoms. Bereaved adults (n = 340) completed questionnaires about their loss, coping styles, CG, and depression. Results suggest that approach-, but not avoidance-, focused coping mediates the relationship of emotional closeness on CG, while emotional closeness of the relationship had no direct impact on depressive symptoms. This suggests closeness of the relationship plays a unique role in CG.