Avoidance-oriented Coping Style Research Articles

Anxiety and Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mothers of Children with Thalassemia

Background: Caring for children with thalassemia under stressful conditions adversely affects the health of mothers. Objectives: This study aims to explore factors causing anxiety and coping strategies among these mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized convenience sampling and included three questionnaires: The Coronavirus Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), the Carver Coping Strategies Questionnaire, and a Demographic Information Questionnaire. The questionnaires were filled out in person. Considering the study variables and allocating 15 samples per variable, the sample size was determined to be 200 participants. Results: The results indicated no significant difference in average anxiety levels between mothers with underlying diseases and those without. The multiple regression analysis (F = 13.950, AR2 = 0.163, P < 0.01) confirmed the model's significance. Problem-oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidance-oriented coping styles significantly impacted anxiety (P < 0.01). Conclusions: It is recommended to promote problem-oriented coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce anxiety among these mothers.

Typical coping patterns: A person-centered approach to coping

Applying the person-oriented approach to coping can provide a unique perspective by revealing typical latent patterns. The study examined typical latent patterns shown by task-, emotion- and avoidance-oriented trait-based coping styles. We performed secondary analyses with Latent Profile Analysis on our former data and three independent datasets containing coping measures with the CISS-48 scale (Endler & Parker, 1994). Gender differences were also studied. Two basic profiles seem universal: the first is characterized by a high level of task-oriented coping, and the second profile is with moderately high scores on all three coping styles. The finding indicates that two fundamental latent coping profiles exist, which suggests a within-subject comparison in practice instead of investigating the absolute value of coping styles. Comparing data before and after 2020, COVID-19 does not seem to affect these profiles. The person-centered approach provides a possibility for the integration of coping-related findings.

The manifestation of anxiety in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography

IntroductionPrevalence of anxiety disorders in coronary artery disease reaches up to 15% and about half of patients with coronary artery disease have anxiety or depression comorbidity. Prevalence of anxiety in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention ranges from 24% to 72%. Anxiety can be the source of distress and is associated with poor prognosis, impaired health-related quality of life and can cause cardiac dysfunction.ObjectivesWe aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety and its association to coping strategies and personality traits in non-depressed patients undergoing elective coronary angiography, a diagnostic procedure for coronary artery disease. We also aimed to determine the correlation of state anxiety to elective coronary angiography finding and its expression over time.MethodsThis was a single-center, cross-sectional, prospective study. Anxiety was evaluated at four-time points using self-rating questionnaires: 14 days prior to and 2–4h before procedure; 24h after procedure and 6 weeks after discharge. The association between anxiety and psychological variables was assessed by multiple linear regression and by linear mixed effect model.ResultsA total of 259 non-depressed patients were included in the final analysis (median age 65, 32% were female). Prevalence of anxiety was 35% and was higher in patients with avoidance-oriented coping style (p<0.001), meanwhile low neuroticism (p<0.001) and extrovertive personality trait (p=0.032) were protective factors. Patients that had no intervention (p=0.022) or had percutaneous coronary intervention (p=0.010) during elective coronary angiography, had lower anxiety than patients in need for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.ConclusionsPersonality traits emotional stability and extroversion are protective factors against anxiety. More than one third of patients experienced clinically significant anxiety before procedure. Our results suggest that recognising anxiety in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography is important. Further on, application of effective interventions for reducing/treating anxiety before or after procedure is needed.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND COPING WITH STRESS AMONG OF STUDENTS OF SELECTED MEDICAL FACULTIES – A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Aim: Assessment of the relationship between emotional intelligence and coping with stress among students of selected medical faculties. Material and methods: The study was conducted among 730 people who were students of the Medical University of Bialystok. The research tool was an anonymous questionnaire, the Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (INTE) and The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Results: In stressful situations, future nurses present the least of the task-oriented coping style, students of emergency medicine react least emotionally to stressful situations, and future doctors have the lowest rating for the avoidance-oriented coping style. Conclusions: Half of the surveyed students are characterized by a high level of emotional intelligence, slightly fewer subjects have an average level. Women are characterized by higher emotional intelligence; the highest level of emotional intelligence is found in students of emergency medicine and medical analytics. In stressful situations, women present mainly an emotional attitude, while men present a task-oriented coping style. Stress management training is recommended, especially in the female population.

Revisiting the multidimensional interaction model of stress, anxiety and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study

BackgroundAlthough the Multidimensional Interaction Model of Stress, Anxiety and Coping (MIMSAC) has been known for years, there is a lack of research examining this theory longitudinally in stressful events. This study aims to revisit the MIMSAC among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA prospective cohort study with the longitudinal design was performed during the first (W1, March 30–April 29, 2020) and second wave (W2, November 3–December 3, 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 216 university students with a mean age of 22 years (ranging from 20 to 36, M = 22.13, SD = 2.04) participated in the study. An online survey included Perceived Stress Scale, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.ResultsDue to the MIMSAC, all variables changed substantially across W1 and W2, adapting to an unpredictable environment. Women scored higher than men in stress, anxiety, emotion- and avoidance-oriented coping styles. We found the indirect effect of emotion-oriented coping on the stress-anxiety relationship and task-oriented coping on the anxiety-stress interaction. Avoidance was not found as a mediator in the stress-anxiety interaction.ConclusionEmotion-oriented coping adversely affected mental health, increasing anxiety in response to stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Task-oriented coping efficiently decreased stress in reaction to high anxiety, but only in men. Avoidance seems to be an ineffective coping style during the COVID-19 pandemic. Campus intervention programs should focus on reducing negative emotions and increasing the frequency of task-oriented coping strategies among university students.

“It doesn’t matter how good the school is if you don’t learn to socialize”: Latinx immigrant students’ testimonios of coping with social isolation in high school

Understanding how Latinx immigrant youth cope with the stressor of social isolation is vital to understanding and improving their functioning and well-being; yet little is known about how they cope with experiences of social isolation in school. To fill this gap in the literature, the purpose of this exploratory study was to qualitatively examine the coping strategies that Latinx immigrant students utilized in the face of social isolation in one high school in a newer Latinx destination in the U.S. south. This study employed a narrative and culturally-congruent methodological approach, analyzing the digital testimonios of 5 female and 2 male Latinx young people, age 17–22. Latinx immigrant youth’s coping styles are theoretically interpreted using Endler’s (1997) multidimensional interaction model of stress, anxiety, and coping processes, which delineates three coping styles: task-oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidance-oriented. Findings demonstrate that participants used a range of both emotion-oriented (including self-kindness, problem reframing, expressing emotion, self-blame, and seeking emotional support) and task-oriented (information-seeking and direct-action) strategies to cope with social isolation. Emotion-oriented strategies were featured more prominently than task-oriented coping in Latinx immigrant students’ narratives of coping with social isolation, and avoidance-oriented coping styles were not described. These findings highlight the importance of emotion-oriented coping for Latinx immigrant youth and illustrate the need for interventions that enhance coping skills and policies to prevent and ameliorate social isolation and thereby improve the socio-emotional well-being of Latinx immigrant students.

Moral distress, emotional impact and coping in intensive care unit staff during the outbreak of COVID-19

BackgroundFrom the beginning, the COVID-19 pandemic increased ICU workloads and created exceptionally difficult ethical dilemmas. ICU staff around the world have been subject to high levels of moral stress, potentially leading to mental health problems. There is only limited evidence on moral distress levels and coping styles among Spanish ICU staff, and how they influenced health professionals’ mental health during the pandemic. ObjectivesTo assess moral distress, related mental health problems (anxiety and depression), and coping styles among ICU staff during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. DesignCross-sectional. Settings and participantsThe study setting consisted of intensive care unit and areas converted into intensive care units in public and private hospitals. A total of 434 permanent and temporary intensive care staff (reassigned due to the pandemic from other departments to units) answered an online questionnaire between March and June 2020. MethodsSociodemographic and job variables, moral distress, anxiety, depression, and coping mechanisms were anonymously evaluated through a self-reported questionnaire. Descriptive and correlation analyses were conducted and multivariate linear regression models were developed to explore the predictive ability of moral distress and coping on anxiety and depression. ResultsMoral distress during the pandemic is determined by situations related to the patient and family, the intensive care unit, and resource management of the organisations themselves. intensive care unit staff already reached moderate levels of moral distress, anxiety, and depression during the first wave of the pandemic. Temporary staff (redeployed from other units) obtained higher scores in these variables (p = 0.04, p = 0.038, and p = 0.009, respectively) than permanent staff, as well as in greater intention to leave their current position (p = 0.03). This intention was also stronger in health staff working in areas converted into intensive care units (45.2%) than in normal intensive care units (40.2%) (p = 0.02). Moral distress, coupled with primarily avoidance-oriented coping styles, explains 37% (AdR2) of the variance in anxiety and 38% (AdR2) of the variance in depression. ConclusionsOur study reveals that the emotional well-being of intensive care unit staff was already at risk during the first wave of the pandemic. The moral distress they experienced was related to anxiety and depression issues, as well as the desire to leave the profession, and should be addressed, not only in permanent staff, but also in temporary staff, redeployed to these units as reinforcement workers.

Comparison of Mental Health, Stress and Coping Methods in Mothers of Children with/without Autism in Ahvaz

Background: The existence of an autistic child causes much mental burden and concern for parents and disrupts their normal functioning in both home and society. Objectives: The present study seeks to compare mental health, stress, and coping styles in mothers of children with/without autism in Ahvaz. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 120 samples of all mothers of children with/without autism in Ahvaz. Actually, from the statistical population of the study, 120 (60 mothers with autistic children and 60 mothers with normal children) were selected using the convenience sampling method. After explaining the objectives of the research to the participants and obtaining a consent form, the questionnaire was answered by them. Stress Questionnaire, Mental Health Questionnaire, and Coping Strategies Questionnaire were used for data collection. Data were analyzed both descriptively and inferentially (MANOVA and ANOVA) using the SPSS version 21. Results: The results indicate a significant difference between mental health (F = 342.14, P < 0.001), stress (F = 10.71, P < 0.001), and coping styles (F = 156, P < 0.001) regarding the mothers of autistic/non-autistic children. There is also a significant difference between the avoidance coping strategies (F = 143.12, P < 0.001) used by mothers of children with/without autism in Ahvaz. Conclusions: As the results showed, mothers of normal children were significantly different from mothers of autistic children in using avoidance-oriented coping styles. We can use the findings of this study in clinical situations in order to help mothers with autistic children to reduce their stress, so they can control their lives better with less stress, and this way, the quality of their lives will be higher.

Changes in Stress, Coping Styles, and Life Satisfaction between the First and Second Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Cross-Lagged Study in a Sample of University Students.

In this study, we aimed to explain the interplay mechanism between stress, life satisfaction, and coping styles among university students. A cohort study was performed during the first (wave 1; W1) and second (wave 2; W2) waves of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The total sample included 231 university students, of which 59.31% were women. The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) were included in one online survey. Stress, emotion-oriented, and avoidance-oriented coping styles increased from W1 to W2 of the COVID-19 pandemic, while life satisfaction and task-oriented coping decreased. The partial mediation effect of all three coping styles during W1 and W2 (in a cross-sectional approach) on the relationship between perceived stress and life satisfaction was confirmed in this study. The task-oriented and emotion-oriented coping styles can play a mediating role in the reciprocal relationship between life satisfaction and perceived stress during W1 and W2 of the pandemic. There were no mutual interactions between stress and life satisfaction from a longitudinal approach. Coping styles changed subsequently due to stressful environmental changes related to lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having a wide range of coping strategies from which to choose during an unstable situation should help manage stress and well-being.

The effects of college students’ perfectionism on career stress and indecision: self-esteem and coping styles as moderating variables

This study identified the subgroups (latent classes) of Korean college students according to the influence of perfectionism on career stress and indecision, and explored the effects of sub-factors of perfectionism on career stress and indecision for each subgroup. Also, the study examined how individual self-esteem and stress coping styles affect the subgroup classification. Data from 476 South Korean college students were analyzed via mixture regression and logistic regression. Four latent classes were identified. In class 1, career indecision increased as self-oriented perfectionism increased, and career stress increased as socially prescribed perfectionism increased. In class 2, career stress increased as self-oriented perfectionism increased, whereas both career stress and career indecision decreased as others-oriented perfectionism increased. In class 3, both career stress and career indecision increased as others-oriented perfectionism increased. In class 4, career stress and career indecision decreased as others-oriented perfectionism increased, while career stress increased as socially prescribed perfectionism increased. In differentiating the classes, self-esteem and coping styles were analyzed as predictor variables. The results indicated that self-esteem helped to distinguish class 1 from class 2, and class 1 from class 3. Avoidance-oriented coping style could distinguish class 1 from class 3. Career counselors would benefit by noting that the influence of each sub-trait of perfectionism on career-related issues may vary by latent class, and that self-esteem and coping styles may moderate the effects of perfectionism on career-related issues.

Coping, stress and negative psychological outcomes in parents of children admitted to a pediatric neurorehabilitation care unit.

Parents' attitudes and psychological adjustment during their child's hospitalization in a pediatric neurorehabilitation care unit are key aspects for the child's adherence to care and the impact of the disease. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between parenting stress, coping style, and negative psychological outcomes in families of children admitted for the first time to a pediatric neurorehabilitation care unit. This is an observational study. Pediatric neurorehabilitation care unit. One hundred twenty-four parents of children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental or neurological conditions. Parents completed standardized questionnaires assessing parenting stress, coping style, anxiety and depressive symptoms. We found that parents of children with neurodevelopmental conditions showed more emotion-focused coping strategies (P=0.016) and depressive symptoms (P=0.01) compared with parents of children with neurological conditions. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that emotion- and avoidance-oriented coping style and socioeconomic status are crucial factors in the adjustment process of parents of children with neurodevelopmental conditions. By contrast, parenting stress and child difficulties were the most significant predictors of negative psychological outcomes in parents with neurological conditions. This study sought to develop more understanding of the relationship among parenting stress, coping, and anxiety or depressive symptoms in parent of children hospitalized in a pediatric neurorehabilitation care unit. We suggest that examining parents may increase our understanding of the interplay between child and parent functioning in families with children admitted for the first time to a pediatric neurorehabilitation care unit. Identify these predictors might help professionals to develop screening procedures to identify parent at high risk for anxiety or depression, and to conduct early interventions to reduce uncertainty and maladaptive coping strategies that may influences rehabilitation process.

Coping styles and aggressiveness in adolescents

Abstract Introduction: Aggressiveness and aggression are important factors contributing to the functioning of young people and their adaptation to the environment. Despite numerous studies on aggression, there are actually no studies on methods of coping with stress among aggressive adolescents. Therefore, the aim of the presented research was to verify whether adolescents with different levels of aggressiveness/aggression reveal different tendencies in the use of styles of coping with stress. Materials and methods: We studied 135 adolescents (aged 16–18), using: 1) the Psychological Inventory of Aggression Syndrome (IPSA) by Gas – enabling identification of three main dimensions of aggression: S – self-aggression, U – internal aggression, and Z – external aggression; and 2) the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) by Endler and Parker, in the Polish adaptation by Strelau et al. Results: Based on their level of aggression, the participants were divided into three groups. Compared to their more aggressive peers, in stressful situations, adolescents scoring low on S, U, and Z significantly more frequently use task-oriented and significantly less frequently use emotion- and avoidance-oriented coping styles. There is a link between the level of aggressiveness/aggression and the tendency to prefer emotion-focused coping and avoidance-oriented coping in the form of distraction, described as a tendency to engage in substitute activities. Conclusions: Elevated aggressiveness/aggression significantly limits the individual’s ability to use constructive methods of coping with stress.

Improving Coping Styles in Family Caregivers of Psychiatric Inpatients Using Planned Behavior Problem-Solving Training.

The consequences and high costs of psychiatric disorders impact family caregivers greatly. Health services should identify and provide accessible support programs to facilitate effective caregiver coping. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a theory-of-planned-behavior-based problem-solving training program on the coping styles of family caregivers of psychiatric inpatients. In this two-group, randomized control trial, 72 family caregivers were randomly assigned to either a control group receiving standard care or an intervention group receiving a training program (eight sessions over 4 weeks). Demographic information was recorded at baseline, and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations was administered to both groups at baseline, immediately postintervention, and 1-month follow-up. Immediately after the intervention, the intervention group earned significantly higher task-oriented coping style scores (mean difference = 5.03, p = .015) than the control group, but no significant difference was detected between the two groups for either emotion- or avoidance-oriented coping style scores. At 1-month follow-up, the intervention group earned significantly higher scores than the control group for task-oriented (mean difference = 8.56, p < .001) and emotion-oriented (mean difference = 7.14, p = .002) coping styles. No improvement in avoidance-oriented coping style at the postintervention or follow-up time points was detected. Implementation by nurses and other health professionals of problem-solving training programs that are based on the theory of planned behavior is recommended to strengthen the use of task- and emotion-oriented approaches that help family caregivers of psychiatric patients better cope with stress.

Psychological distress and coping styles of caregivers of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a longitudinal study

Objectives: To assess psychological distress levels over time in caregivers of patients in the early stage of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to investigate the association between caregivers’ coping styles and psychological distress over time. Methods: Fifty-four caregivers were followed in a RCT of patients in the early stage of ALS. Questionnaires were administered at baseline, 4, 7, and 10 months. Psychological distress was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and task-, emotion-, and avoidance-oriented coping styles were identified with the short version of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS-21). Analyses were performed using linear mixed models. Results: Caregivers’ psychological distress increased by 0.24 points on the HADS per month (p = 0.01). An emotion-oriented coping style was positively associated with psychological distress in caregivers (b = 0.90, p < 0.01), but did not influence the development of psychological distress over time. The avoidance-oriented coping style and the task-oriented coping style were not significantly related to psychological distress. Conclusion: Feelings of distress increase in ALS caregivers during the course of the disease of the patient. Emotion-oriented coping is related to psychological distress; however, emotional coping and distress might represent overlapping constructs. Focusing on one coping style in the care for ALS caregivers may be too simplistic for the complex situations they face, as it ignores the fact that people may require different coping strategies in different situations.

Stress coping styles and occupational burnout syndrome of nurses employed in intensive care units

Abstract Aim. The aim of the study is to evaluate a relationship between demographic and work-related factors and a work stress coping style as well as a relationship between a work stress coping style and symptoms of occupational syndrome. Material and methods. Material was collected from 50 nurses employed in intensive care units of clinical hospitals of the Medical University of Lodz. The study was conducted as a diagnostic survey using the following survey techniques: author’s questionnaire and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Results. The study group demonstrated the highest mean value for the task-oriented coping style and the lowest mean value – for the avoidance-oriented coping style. Age, education level and subjective determination of the degree of work-related stress affect the value of the task-oriented coping style. The emotion-oriented stress style is accompanied by heart palpitations and avoidance of physical activity. The value of the avoidance-oriented coping sub-style, i.e. distraction, depends on atmosphere at workplace, heart palpitations and sleep problems. The value of the avoidance-oriented coping sub style, i.e. social diversion, is contributed by marital status, fertility and work organization. Conclusions. Nurses working in intensive care units prefer the task-oriented coping style. Work stress coping style is related to demographic factors and perception of work environment. An unadaptive style of coping with work-related stress is accompanied by symptoms of somatic occupational burnout syndrome.

Genetic and environmental contributions to psychological resilience and coping

Background: Twin studies indicate that genetic and environmental factors contribute to both psychological resilience and coping style, but estimates of their relative molecular and shared environmental contributions are limited. The degree of overlap in the genetic architectures of these traits is also unclear. Methods: Using data from a large population- and family-based cohort Generation Scotland (N = 8,734), we estimated the genetic and shared environmental variance components for resilience, task-, emotion-, and avoidance-oriented coping style in a linear mixed model (LMM). Bivariate LMM analyses were used to estimate the genetic correlations between these traits. Resilience and coping style were measured using the Brief Resilience Scale and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, respectively. Results: The greatest proportion of the phenotypic variance in resilience remained unexplained, although significant contributions from common genetic variants and family-shared environment were found. Both task- and avoidance-oriented coping had significant contributions from common genetic variants, sibling- and couple-shared environments, variance in emotion-oriented coping was attributable to common genetic variants, family- and couple-shared environments. The estimated correlation between resilience and emotion-oriented coping was high for both common-variant-associated genetic effects (r G = -0.79, se = 0.19), and for the additional genetic effects from the pedigree (r K = -0.94, se = 0.30). Genetic correlations between resilience and task- and avoidance-oriented coping did not meet statistical significance. Conclusions: Both genetics and shared environmental effects were major contributing factors to coping style, whilst the variance in resilience remains largely unexplained. Strong genetic overlap between resilience and emotion-oriented coping suggests a relationship whereby genetic factors that increase negative emotionality also lead to decreased resilience. We suggest that genome-wide family-based studies of resilience and coping may help to elucidate tractable methodologies to identify genetic architectures and modifiable environmental risk factors to protect against psychiatric illness, although further work with larger sample sizes is needed.

P168: Critical dynamics study of burnout in emergency department health professionals in New Brunswick: revisiting 6 years later

Introduction: Emergency Department (ED) staff burnout correlates with psychological coping strategies used by Emergency department health professionals (EDHPs). Staff at two urban referral EDs in New Brunswick took part in a survey of burnout and coping strategies after one ED experienced an influx of new physicians and a newly renovated ED in 2011. Six years later, ED crowding and EDHP staffing problems became prevalent at both EDs. We compared levels of burnout at two urban referral EDs to determine if burnout and coping worsened over time. Methods: An anonymous survey of all EDHPs at 2 urban referral EDs was performed in 2011 and in 2017. A demographics questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI, measuring emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment), and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS, measuring task-oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidance-oriented coping styles) were collected. Descriptive statistics and linear regression models examined relationships over time and between the two hospitals. Results: Burnout scores were similar both at the two facilities and in 2011 (n=153) and 2017 (n=127). There were no differences between samples or EDs for important factors. Emotion-oriented coping was associated with higher levels of burnout, while task-oriented coping was inversely correlated with burnout. Experiencing professional stress was a significant predictor of emotional exhaustion, while those working longer years in their current department had higher emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. By 2017, both EDs had experienced significant nursing staff turnover (50%) compared to 2011. Conclusion: Burnout scores remained consistent after 6 years at these two urban referral EDs. Given the evidence that increased years of service is associated with increased burnout, high staff turnover rate at both EDs could explain how scores remained constant. Staff turnover may represent a way these ED systems cope in a challenging environment. In 2017, task-oriented copers continued to score lower while emotionally-oriented copers showed higher burnout risk, and experiencing professional stress remains a strong predictor of burnout.

Genetic and environmental contributions to psychological resilience and coping.

Background: Twin studies indicate that genetic and environmental factors contribute to both psychological resilience and coping style, but estimates of their relative molecular and shared environmental contributions are limited. The degree of overlap in the genetic architectures of these traits is also unclear. Methods: Using data from a large population- and family-based cohort Generation Scotland (N = 8,734), we estimated the genetic and shared environmental variance components for resilience, task-, emotion-, and avoidance-oriented coping style in a linear mixed model (LMM). Bivariate LMM analyses were used to estimate the genetic correlations between these traits. Resilience and coping style were measured using the Brief Resilience Scale and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, respectively. Results: The greatest proportion of the phenotypic variance in resilience remained unexplained, although significant contributions from common genetic variants and family-shared environment were found. Both task- and avoidance-oriented coping had significant contributions from common genetic variants, sibling- and couple-shared environments, variance in emotion-oriented coping was attributable to common genetic variants, family- and couple-shared environments. The estimated correlation between resilience and emotion-oriented coping was high for both common-variant-associated genetic effects (r G = -0.79, se = 0.19), and for the additional genetic effects from the pedigree (r K = -0.94, se = 0.30). Genetic correlations between resilience and task- and avoidance-oriented coping did not meet statistical significance. Conclusions: Both genetics and shared environmental effects were major contributing factors to coping style, whilst the variance in resilience remains largely unexplained. Strong genetic overlap between resilience and emotion-oriented coping suggests a relationship whereby genetic factors that increase negative emotionality also lead to decreased resilience. We suggest that genome-wide family-based studies of resilience and coping may help to elucidate tractable methodologies to identify genetic architectures and modifiable environmental risk factors to protect against psychiatric illness, although further work with larger sample sizes is needed.

Maternal Stress and Coping Strategies in Developmental Dyslexia: An Italian Multicenter Study.

Studies about the impact of developmental dyslexia (DD) on parenting are scarce. Our investigation aimed to assess maternal stress levels and mothers' copying styles in a population of dyslexic children. A total of 874 children (500 boys, 374 girls; mean age 8.32 ± 2.33 years) affected by DD was included in the study. A total of 1,421 typically developing children (789 boys, 632 girls; mean age 8.25 ± 3.19 years) were recruited from local schools of participating Italian Regions (Abruzzo, Calabria, Campania, Puglia, Umbria, Sicily) and used as control-children group. All mothers (of both DD and typically developing children) filled out an evaluation for parental stress (Parenting Stress Index-Short Form) and coping strategies [Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS)]. No statistical differences for mean age (p = 0.456) and gender (p = 0.577) were found between DD and control children. Mothers of children affected by DD showed an higher rate of all parental stress indexes (Parental Distress domain p < 0.001, Difficult Child p < 0.001, Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction p < 0.001, and Total Stress subscale score p < 0.001) than controls mothers. According to the CISS evaluation, mothers of DD children reported a significantly higher rate of emotion-oriented (p < 0.001) and avoidance-oriented (p < 0.001) coping styles than mothers of typical developing children. On the other hand, a lower representation of task-oriented coping style was found in mothers of DD children (p < 0.001) in comparison to mothers of control-children. Our study shows the clinical relevance of the burden carried by the mothers of children affected by DD and suggests the importance to assess parents, particularly mothers, to improve family compliance and clinical management of this disorder.

Relationship between coping styles and lipid profile among public university staff

BackgroundThe scarcity of data about coping styles with a biochemical marker namely lipid profile, potentially associated with cardiovascular risk factors is most striking among professionals working in public university. Hence, this research aimed to investigate the relationship between coping styles and lipid profile comprising total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), HDL-cholesterol (high density lipoprotein-cholesterol) and LDL-cholesterol (Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol) among this group of professionals.MethodsA cross sectional survey was conducted among staff from a tertiary education centre. Subjects were contacted to ascertain their medical history. A total of 320 subjects were interviewed and 195 subjects were eligible and subsequently recruited on a suitable date for taking blood and administration of the questionnaires. The subjects completed questionnaires pertaining to demographic details and coping styles. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to measure the strength of association between lipid profile and coping styles.ResultsMajority of the subjects were non-academic staff (60.0%), female (67.2%), Malay (91.8%), married (52.3%) and educated until Diploma level (34.9%). Academic staff scored significantly higher mean scores in task-oriented coping styles (Mean = 64.12). Non-academic staff scored significantly higher mean scores in emotion (Mean = 48.05) and avoidance-oriented coping styles (Mean = 57.61). Malay subjects had significantly higher mean scores in emotion (Mean = 47.14) and avoidance-oriented coping styles (Mean = 55.23). Non-malay subjects (Mean = 66.00) attained significantly higher mean scores in task-oriented coping styles. Single/divorced/widowed individuals scored significantly higher mean scores in emotion (Mean = 48.13) and avoidance-oriented coping styles (Mean = 56.86). There was a significant negative correlation between TC (r = −0.162) and LDL (r = −0.168) with avoidance-oriented coping styles (p = 0.023, p = 0.019 respectively).ConclusionAvoidance-oriented coping style was more likely to engender favourable lipid profile. Hence, assessment of coping styles would certainly assist health care practitioners in predicting subjects who would be at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.