Choice Of Coping Strategies Research Articles

Perceived stress and coping strategies used by undergraduate dental students: An observational study.

Studies around the world have reported that dental students experience higher stress compared to medical students. Prolonged and high perceived stress can be of a significant concern as it affects the personal, psychological, and professional well-being of the student, affecting quality of life. The aim of the study was to describe the perceived stress and coping strategies that undergraduate students at dental schools of Lahore, Pakistan employ. This observational study was conducted in year 2023 to report perceived stress and coping strategies among 720 undergraduate dental students of Lahore using modified Dental Environment Stress (DES) and brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) questionnaires. Categorical variables such as sex, year of study (year 1 till 4), and responses to DES stress domains, stress-related items, COPE domains, and COPE-related items were computed into frequencies and percentages. Mean item scores of stress domains, stress-related items, COPE domains, and COPE-related items were presented with standard deviations (SD). Groups wise comparisons were done using Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis H tests. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The majority of the undergraduate dental students perceived moderate amount of stress. Item "overload feeling due to huge syllabus" had the highest mean stress score (3.49±0.76) and "language barrier" had the lowest mean stress score (1.75±0.92). Female students had higher mean stress scores than the male students in all of the DES domains. Mean stress scores were higher in year 4 students for "workload", "self-efficacy beliefs", "faculty and administration", "clinical training", and "social stresses" compared to other years. "Religion" was the highest- and "denial" was the lowest-ranked coping strategies. Female students employed "active coping", "positive reframing", "religion", "venting", "self-blame", "denial", and "behavioral disengagement" coping strategies more than males. Moreover, final year dental students used "instrumental support", "humor", "self-blame", "denial", and "behavioral disengagement" coping strategies more than year 1 and 2 students. Sex and year of study can influence the degree of perceived stress and choice of coping strategies employed to overcome stressful situations. For the emotional, psychological, and professional well-being of undergraduate students, institutions must provide a nurturing and positive learning environment implementing strategies for stress prevention and management.

ПСИХОЛОГІЧНІ ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ПРОЯВУ КОПІНГ-СТРАТЕГІЙ СТУДЕНТІВ З РІЗНИМ РІВНЕМ СТРЕСОСТІЙКОСТІ

Ukrainian society and every Ukrainian family is currently experiencing social and psychological difficulties as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. All this creates a significant number of stressors for the population. Martial law, hostilities, forced changes in living conditions, and constant stress cause people to experience difficulties in maintaining psychological comfort. Therefore, the problem of optimal choice of coping strategies, especially by students, is becoming particularly relevant. The article deals with the issue of individual's choice of behaviour coping strategies. The special significance of the formation and development of this phenomenon in the participants of the educational process of a higher education institution is emphasized. In particular, the emphasis is placed on the difficulties that students are currently facing, namely the consequences of quarantine restrictions, a sense of isolation, internal discomfort and general psycho-emotional stress caused by the martial law in our country. The article focuses on coping strategies as a subconscious means of psychological defence that shapes human behaviour in certain conditions. A theoretical analysis is carried out and meanings of the following concepts are indicated: «coping», «coping strategy», «coping behaviour» and «coping resources», as well as an analysis of the peculiarities of making behavioural choices in certain conditions. The main strategies of behaviour in a stressful situation and the main approaches to the study of coping behaviour and behavioural strategies are analysed. The article reflects empirical indicators of the ratio of dominant coping strategies at different levels of stress resistance. A correlation between the level of stress resistance and coping strategies has been established: with a low level of stress resistance, passive coping strategy dominates; in the presence of a high level - active coping strategies.

Religiosity as a factor of emotional well-being of the Russian youth (on the example of Orthodox and Muslims)

Currently, the studies on religiosity are becoming more and more popular and relevant, and the terminology “spirituality” is acquiring its original etymological meaning. There is a tendency of interest in spiritual development on the part of young people who choose the concept of spirituality as the basis of their personal development. The article presents the results of an analysis of the relationship between coping strategies, stress levels and religious orientation among young people living in Russia. 104 respondents took part in the study: 52 men and 52 women between the ages from 18 to 35 years. To determine coping strategies, the author uses the Russian-language adaptation of the COPE questionnaire developed by K. Carver, M. Scheyer and J. Weintraub and adapted by T.O. Gordeeva, E.N. Osin and E.A. Rasskazova. To measure religious orientation, the G. Allport and D. Ross Scale of Religious Orientation was used, the type of religious coping was assessed using the B-RCOPE short questionnaire of religious coping. The analysis of the study results confirmed our hypothesis that coping strategies are closely related to stress levels: Active coping strategies help reduce stress levels, while avoidant coping behavior correlates with high stress levels. In addition, the study showed that religious orientation and the type of religious coping influence the choice of coping strategies. Participants with an internal religious orientation and positive religious coping were more likely to have active coping strategies, while external religiosity and negative coping were associated with avoidance and passive behavior. This indicates that religiosity can play an important role in choosing ways to cope with stress among young people living in Russia. It has been revealed that it is religious coping that they use most often.Hypothesis: The present study serves to confirm the assumption that religiosity is one of the significant factors of the emotional well-being of the Russian youth.

Importance of Coping Strategies on Quality of Life in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, spasticity, tremors, and cognitive disorders. Individuals with MS may employ different coping strategies to manage these symptoms, which in turn can significantly impact their quality of life (QoL). This review aims to analyze these coping strategies and their impact on QoL. Furthermore, it seeks to identify the key factors that influence the choice and effectiveness of these coping strategies, providing insights into which strategies are most beneficial for enhancing QoL in people with MS. Methods: Systematic searches were performed in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. This systematic review has been registered in OSF with the number DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/QY37X. Results: A total of 1192 studies were identified. After reading the full text of the selected studies and applying predefined inclusion criteria, 19 studies were included based on their pertinence and relevance to the topic. The results revealed that emotional variables, demographic factors, personality traits, and family support significantly influence the choice of coping strategies used to manage the symptoms of MS. Problem-solving and task-oriented coping were prevalent among MS patients and associated with better QoL outcomes. Emotional-focused and avoidance strategies were generally linked to poorer QoL, though avoidance provided temporary relief in certain contexts. Social support, emotional health, and cognitive reframing were crucial in enhancing QoL. Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of tailored psychoeducational and therapeutic interventions focusing on emotional health, social support, and adaptive coping strategies. These interventions can significantly improve the long-term outcomes for individuals with MS. Future research should explore the dynamic interactions between coping strategies and QoL over time, providing a comprehensive understanding of how to best support MS patients in managing their disease.

Руминативное мышление, перфекционизм и стратегии совладания со стрессом как мишени метакогнитивного тренинга у пациентов с депрессией

&lt;p&gt;The current stage of studying depressive disorders is characterized by attention to various aspects of metacognitive functioning and the development of compact and effective psychosocial interventions, of which metacognitive training (D-MCT) is an example. &lt;strong&gt;The aim&lt;/strong&gt; of this study is to provide a rationale for metacognitive interventions: to identify the correlation between the main targets of D-MCT training (perfectionism, rumination, and coping strategies) and their relationship with the severity of depression symptoms. &lt;strong&gt;Materials.&lt;/strong&gt; We analyzed the data from the examination of 107 patients with depressive disorders. &lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; the influence of rumination on the severity of symptoms of depression is indirect; it is mediated by perfectionist attitudes and beliefs. The influence of depression on the choice of coping strategies is also related to the expression of perfectionism and rumination, which make even conditionally constructive coping - taking responsibility - dysfunctional. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/strong&gt; The range of targets of metacognitive training for depressive disorders allows us to consider the mutual influence of the main dysfunctional risk factors for the occurrence and chronification of depression.&lt;/p&gt;

Mobile money, food security and coping strategies in a post-conflict and fragile context: evidence from Burundi

PurposeAttaining the Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2) of zero hunger continues to be a challenge in most parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. However, financial inclusion is seen as a potential pathway for reducing food insecurity among poor households. Mobile money is a financial inclusion instrument that is easily accessible to poor households and has the potential to increase the level of financial inclusion. This paper contributes to the literature by examining the determinants of mobile money adoption, its effects on household food security and the choice of coping strategies in Burundi, a post-conflict and fragile country.Design/methodology/approachUsing survey data that involved 860 households in Burundi, we adopted the Household Hunger Scale (HHS) developed under the Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Project to measure household food security. We further employ the endogenous switching regression treatment effects model for ordered outcomes and the multivariate probit model to achieve our aims.FindingsThe results of our study reveal that the adoption of mobile money is influenced by factors such as gender, marital status, age, formal education, membership in a social network, area of residence and access to a tarred road network. Additionally, the food security status of a household was determined by marital status, formal education, social network membership, access to tarred roads, off-farm income, access to credit and land tenure security. We confirm that mobile money adoption has a significantly positive effect on the food security status of households with heterogeneity in gender and area of residence. We also find that mobile money adoption reduces the likelihood of households adopting consumption-related coping strategies.Practical implicationsThe promotion of mobile money should, therefore, be included in Burundi’s national food security policies.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the effect of mobile money adoption on household food security and the choice of coping strategies in a post-conflict context.

COPING STRATEGIES ON CLIMATE VARIABILITY AMONG COWPEA FARMERS IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background.&lt;/strong&gt; The unstable climatic conditions can no longer be predicted by farmers. The unpredictability intensity of temperature and pattern of rainfall in cowpea production has affected the farmers’ decision on production practices and general productivity. Therefore, farmers are beginning to improvise on management practices to avert the effects of climate change to remain relevant and profitable in the business of cowpea production. &lt;strong&gt;Objective.&lt;/strong&gt; To examine the farmers’ coping strategies used against the effects of climate variability for cowpea production in Kwara State, Nigeria. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology.&lt;/strong&gt; A multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 cowpea-based farmers. A structured survey questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Data were analysed with frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to ascertain the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics and copying strategies used by farmers. &lt;strong&gt;Results.&lt;/strong&gt; Majority (79.2%) of the respondents experienced high adverse effects of climate variability including abnormal rise in temperature (76.7%), irregular/unpredictable rainfall patterns (51.7%), and excessive rainfall (37.5%) on cowpea crop. The leading coping strategies used by farmers were use of fertilizer (x̄=2.73), herbicides (x̄=2.72), and planting early maturing variety (x̄=2.51). Farmers were mainly hindered by adequate irrigation facilities (x̄=1.72), inadequate access to extension services (x̄=1.66), and high cost of agrochemicals (x̄=1.60). Result education, cowpea farm size, years of experience in cowpea farming, membership in farmers group, and additional sources of information on cowpea production showed a positive significant relationship with the choice of coping strategies employed by cowpea farmers against the effects of climate change experienced at p&amp;lt;0.05 level. &lt;strong&gt;Implication.&lt;/strong&gt; The study showed that abnormal rise in temperature and irregular rainfall patterns are affecting cowpea production and thus, some socioeconomic attributes significantly supported farmers’ choice of coping strategies employed against the effects of climate change and variability. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusion.&lt;/strong&gt; The use of agrochemicals and cultivation of early maturing variety has played critical roles in coping with adverse effects of climate variability in cowpea production. &lt;/p&gt;

Impact of workplace incivility on choice of coping strategies: A mixed method study

This research drew upon a mixed-method approach to gain further insight into workplace incivility and its impact on an employee’s preferred choice of coping strategies (Avoidant Coping, Task Focused Coping, and Emotion Focused Coping). Utilizing a convenience sampling approach, data was collected from working adults that were employed in companies within the United Arab Emirates for a period of at least 6 months (N = 151). Three simple linear regressions and an inductive thematic analysis were conducted to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative findings revealed that workplace incivility significantly predicted avoidant coping as well as emotion focused coping. The complementary thematic analysis further revealed that employees who were a target of incivility were negatively impacted and often looked to trusted confidants to share their experiences with. The results of this study hope to be used as a base for developing intervention initiatives in organizations to prevent workplace incivility from escalating to more aggressive forms of behavior by providing employees with the support needed to better cope and address such situations. Implementing programs such as mindfulness training, cognitive-behavioral stress management, and proactive coping interventions are recommended to better support employees in the workplace.

The double-edged sword: investigating when and why supervisor negative feedback promotes versus inhibits employee performance

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate when and why supervisor negative feedback is associated with employees' job performance via two different pathways (i.e. emotion-focused coping and problem-focused coping) and to introduce proactive personality as a moderator.Design/methodology/approachTime-lagged data were collected using a field survey research design. Participants included 389 dyads of employees and their direct supervisors from five companies in China.FindingsSupervisor negative feedback can lead to employees' emotion-focused coping, which in turn impairs their job performance. Meanwhile, supervisor negative feedback can trigger employees’ problem-focused coping, which subsequently promotes their job performance. Furthermore, proactive personality moderates the indirect effect of supervisor negative feedback on employee performance through emotion-focused coping.Originality/valueThis study explored the double-edged effects of supervisor negative feedback on employee job performance from a coping strategy perspective and investigated how proactive personality influences the choice of coping strategies.

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.

Meaning-of-life Orientations and Strategies of Coping Behavior in Young People with Different Orientations for the Future

Introduction. At the moment an urgent topic of psychological research is the identification of opportunities for young people to overcome difficult life situations, especially in situations of uncertainty. One of the areas of research in this area is the relationship of the choice of coping strategies with elements of the value-meaning sphere, this can shed light on the mechanisms of meaning regulation of the choice of ways to overcome difficult situations.Objective. The study of the choice of various coping strategies in connection with life orientations is depending on the type of orientation for the future in young people.Materials and methods. The method “Meaning-of-life orientations” by D. A. Leontiev was used to determine the meaning-of-life orientations of young people. According to this methodology, the respondents’ orientation towards the future was also determined using indicators on the “goals in life” scale: the presence of a goal in the future, orientation and time perspective, and on the “process of life” scale. The methodology “Methods of coping behavior” by R. Lazarus was applied to determine the choice of coping strategies.Results. The subjects were young people aged 19–23 years. According to the severity of the orientation towards the future, the sample was divided into two groups: with high and medium orientation towards the future (group 1, 47.3 %), and with low and below average (group 2, 52.7 %). An analysis of the results obtained which is used the “Life-meaning orientations” method showed that the studied groups of young people have differences in the severity of all scales of CSF. According to the results, the greatest differences were found on the scales of “Goals in life” and “Locus of control of life”. Statistical analysis of the differences which used the Mann-Whitney U criterion in the severity of coping behavior strategies showed that significant differences between the groups were identified by the indicator “Problem solving planning”.Discussion. The results obtained on the type of orientation towards the future as a predictor of the choice of coping strategies are consistent with existing data that overcoming a problem through a purposeful analysis of the situation and possible behaviors, planning one’s own actions taking into account objective conditions, past experience and available resources can help a person manage a difficult situation more effectively and reduce negative consequences through the use of imagination and constructive modeling of the future.

Work-Related Stressors and Coping Strategies of Nurses in a Selected Tertiary Hospital in a City in the Philippines

Background: Nurses may experience stress at work due to reasons like job overload, lack of sleep, a feeling of lack of support, and many more. Therefore, nurses must have coping strategies in place to provide all patients with the best possible care. The aim of this study is to determine the significant relationship between work-related stressors and the coping strategies of the nurses in a selected tertiary hospital in Bulacan by identifying their profile variables, their work-related stressors, and their coping strategies. Methods: Adapted survey questionnaires were answered by 206 nurses working in different areas of the Bulacan Medical Center in a self-administered manner, and 166 data points were suitable for data analysis. Nurses have diverse profiles. The data obtained were analyzed using different statistical treatments – percentage, weighted mean, one-way ANOVA t- test, and Pearson r to yield the needed results for the study. Results: Work-related stressors (F=3.571, p&lt;.001, &amp; η^2=.263) and coping strategies (F=3.938, p&lt;.001, η^2=.283) have significant differences in their area of duty. As for their work-related stressors, it is evident that nurses perceive external stressors to be slightly more significant (M = 2.58) than internal stressors (M = 2.49). For coping, nurses often employ problem-focused strategies (M = 3.04) to deal with stressors in their work environment than emotional coping strategies (M = 2.68). With regards to the correlation between work-related stressors and coping strategies, there is a moderate positive correlation between the two (r=.521, p&lt;.001). Conclusion: The findings of the study confirmed the presence of both external and internal work-related stressors among nurses. External stressors such as workload, conflicts at work, and dealing with difficult patients and their families were identified as significant sources of stress. Internal factors, including high expectations, feelings of inadequacy, and negative emotions during task performance, were also found to contribute to nurses' stress levels. This study confirmed that age, civil status, length of service, sex, and employment status did not significantly influence nurses' experiences of work-related stress or their choice of coping strategies. The result of this study concludes that work-related stressors and coping strategies are impacted by their area of assignment. Nurses working in critical care units, such as emergency rooms and intensive care units, experienced higher levels of stress compared to those in other areas. Nurses who experienced higher levels of work-related stress were more likely to employ coping strategies to manage and regulate stressful events. In light of this, it also concludes that work-related stressors and coping strategies of the nurses in Bulacan Medical Center are correlated with each other. In line with the significant correlation between work-related stressors and the coping strategies of nurses, it can be concluded that in the nursing profession, resiliency is prevalent even in stressful situations. Additionally, in this study, it was also highlighted that nurses employ problem-focused coping more than emotion-focused coping. This also implies how nurses in a clinical setting are more likely to be self-composed for them to formulate an organized and planned action in the presence of conflict.

A Poultry Farmers’ Perception and Coping Strategies to Climate Change: Implications on Poultry Production n Bono East Region, Ghana

The study assessed poultry farmers' perception and coping strategies to the effect of climate change on poultry production in the Bono East region of Ghana. The Chi-square test was used to examine the drivers of the choice of coping strategies used by poultry farmers to mitigate the effects of climate change on poultry production. The results revealed that poultry farmers were aware of climate change in their various localities. Majority of the farmers acknowledged that drought has increased (60%) while others mentioned that temperature has gone up (63%), and most of them also perceived that rainfall has reduced (75%). Majority of the respondents revealed that climate change reduced the growth rate of poultry birds (62%), increases the incidence of diseases outbreak (58%), and has high effect on feed quality (67%). The main coping strategies used by the poultry farmers in the study area are litter spreading and cleaning out and planting of trees. Marital status, educational level and main occupation are the factors that influence the choice of coping strategies used by the poultry farmers. Hence, interventions on enhancing poultry farmer’s awareness and knowledge about different adaptation strategies to improve their adaptive capacity on climate change should be encouraged.

Psychological features of students’ choice of coping strategies

Psychological features of students’ choice of coping strategies

Fear of the unknown: Experience of frontline healthcare workers with coping strategies used to face the COVID 19 pandemic.

The COVID 19 pandemic presented various challenges among health care workers, one of them being the impact it has on mental health. The psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, insomnia and stress, all consequences of the pandemic cause psychopathological outcomes reverberating negatively on the emotional well-being of health care workers. This study aimed to explore the experience of frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in a middle-income country in Latin America and to identify the coping mechanisms they used to face stressful situations during this time. A qualitative study based on an interpretative paradigm was conducted allowing to examine complex, ambiguous and emotionally loaded topics to explore in detail the experience of frontline HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through convenience sampling eleven frontline HCWs were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. An inductive analysis was done with four pre-established categories: the experience of HCWs during the attention of COVID-19 patients, the experience during their own infection, the experience during the work reintegration and the coping mechanisms used. Our results show that fear and uncertainty predominated throughout the attention of COVID-19 patients. Participants used both coping strategies based on problem-solving efforts, such as routine changes, and emotional management efforts, like social support or psychological counselling. The choice of coping strategies was influenced by their personal beliefs, past emotional experiences, and prior medical formation. These findings provide public and private institutions insight for creating effective policies, based on the HCWs' preferences, to promote their psychological well-being.

The impact of the war in Ukraine on the psychological well-being of students

Background and Aim of Study: The war in Ukraine affects the psychological state and life activities of university students. Aim of the study: to identify the state of psychological well-being of students and the peculiarities of students’ use of coping strategies in overcoming life crises on their own. Material and Methods: The study was conducted among 323 Ukrainian university students aged 20-35 in October 2023. According to the impact of the hostilities on them, the respondents were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 – 111 persons living in the area of active hostilities; Group 2 – 104 persons living in the areas where missiles and drones were fired; Group 3 – 108 persons living on the territory of Ukraine, where there were no hostilities and shelling, and in the EU countries. The Psychological General Well-Being Index, PGWBI, and the Coping Strategies Inventory, CSI, were included in an online survey. Both techniques were found to have adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha was 0.928 and 0.759, respectively). Results: Respondents in all groups are moderately distressed. The highest level of distress (the lowest level of PGWBI) was found among students in Group 1 (55.1 points). Students in Groups 2 and 3 had lower scores (60.1 and 63.5 points, respectively), which corresponds to moderate distress. Students use a variety of coping strategies in stressful situations. However, the coping strategy of cognitive restructuring was used more often (9.8 points in Group 3, 9.5 points in Group 1). This was due to a general rethinking of the meaning of life, of attitudes toward oneself and others because of the war. Coping strategies of social support (8.9 points) and self-criticism (8.7 points) were also important for Group 1. This was due to the importance of social support, reassessment of one’s own behavior and thinking in the war. Conclusions: The obtained data indicate that the war in Ukraine has a negative impact on the psychological state of students. The level of impact was higher the closer the students were to the active combat zone. This influence determined the students' choice of coping strategies in dealing with life crises on their own.

INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE OF ELITE WOMEN’S HANDBALL PLAYERS ON THE CHOICE OF STRESS COPING STRATEGIES

Introduction. The problem of finding optimal strategies for overcoming stress by elite athletes remains relevant. Many authors study the problem of stress resistance in sports from the standpoint of forming a set of athlete’s personal qualities. The emotional intelligence is such athlete’s personal characteristics that affect the ability to withstand competitive stress.&#x0D; The aim of the study: to establish a relation between coping strategies and emotional intelligence of elite women’s handball players.&#x0D; Materials and methods: Athletes of the Ukrainian national women’s handball team (21 players aged 17 to 28, experience in this sport from 5 to 19 years) took part in the research. The following methods: questionnaire «Ways of coping behaviour» by R. Lazarus, the Nelson-Hall methodology devised to diagnose EI, was used. Data was processed by non-parametric descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk normality test, and correlation analysis.&#x0D; Results: Strategies using by athletes to increase the ability of the psyche to adapt to anxiety, the level of emotional intelligence and its components, the characteristics of motivation to succeed and motivation to avoid failure have been identified. 61.9 % of elite women’s handball players showed a low level of general emotional intelligence; 38.1 % of people showed a middle level. Correlation analysis between athletes’ choice of coping strategies and manifestations of emotional intelligence revealed certain patterns. «Confrontational coping» correlated with empathy (r = 0.45). Coping «Distancing» correlated with self-control (r = 0.59) and self-motivation (r = 0.53). Coping «Positive reappraisal» correlated with emotional awareness (r = 0.47), self-emotion management (r = 0.52) and overall emotional intelligence (r = 0.59). Coping «Self-control» had a positive correlation with self-motivation (r = 0.53).&#x0D; Conclusions: The obtained results give grounds to assert the expediency of applying the correction of emotional intelligence by increasing one in the practice of psychological training of athletes, which will increase their stress resistance.

Coping strategies among adolescents and young adults living with HIV/AIDS in Accra-Ghana

BackgroundLiving with HIV/AIDS is remarkably stressful and has an adverse effect on one’s physical and mental health. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy has led to an increased number of children with perinatal acquired HIV who are living into adolescence and adulthood. Developing strategies to cope with HIV becomes imperative, especially among these adolescents. The study determined the factors that influence coping strategies among adolescents living with HIV.MethodsAn analytic cross-sectional design was used. A total of 154 adolescents aged 10–19 years living with HIV were systematically sampled at the Fevers Unit of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital from June to December, 2021. The adolescent version of the KidCope tool was used to assess the choice of coping strategies. Stata 16 was used to determine associations between independent variables and the coping strategies identified. Only variables that were significant at p = 0.1 or less in the crude model were used to run the adjusted regression model. The level of significance was set at p = 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval.ResultsThe mean age of participants was 19.2 ± 0.45 years with 51.9% (80/154) of participants being males. A majority, 57.1% of the participants employed positive coping strategies with 87.0% (135/154) using cognitive restructuring strategy. In an adjusted linear regression model, participants coping strategies were significantly associated with their educational level (p = 0.04) and presence of both parents as caregivers (p = 0.02).ConclusionParticipants largely adopted positive coping strategies in managing the disease. Factors that influenced the choice of coping strategies were higher levels of education and the presence of both parents as caregivers. The importance of a good social support structure and pursuing further education needs to be emphasized in counselling adolescents living with HIV as it promotes the choice of positive coping strategies.

Pain coping strategies and their effectiveness in managing and reducing pain in patients after planned surgical procedures: an observational study

Background: It is well known that postoperative pain control is very important because it prevents the negative effects of untreated pain and reduces the development of postoperative complications. The experience of postoperative pain and the choice of coping strategies after surgery are very different and individual. Therefore, staff must take a more individualized approach to pain management to optimize postoperative pain relief.Aim of the study: The main objective of this study was to evaluate pain management strategies and their effectiveness in managing and reducing pain in patients after planned surgical procedures.Material and Methods: The observational study was conducted at EuroMediCare St. Roch Specialized Hospital in Ozimek in the Department of General Surgery from November 2019 to February 2020. The study included 100 patients after elective surgical procedures. The study used the Pain Coping Strategies Questionnaire, the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, and a questionnaire created by the author independently.Results: Analysis revealed that the patient's age affects pain coping strategies scores (p = 0.035). Place of residence influenced the use of strategies of ignoring experience (p = 0.031) and increased behavioural activity (p = 0.014). There was a correlation between pain management and the use of diverting attention (r = 0.236; p = 0.018), ignoring experiences (r = 0.386; p = 0.000), declaration of coping (r = 0.384; p = 0.000), increased behavioural activity (r = 0.335; p = 0.001) and between ability to reduce pain and the use of strategies to ignoring experiences (r = 0.325; p = 0.001), declaration of coping (r = 0.244; p = 0.014) and increased behavioural activity (r = 0.271; p = 0.006). It was observed that the use of catastrophising strategies affected the ability to control (r = - 0.273; p = 0.006) and reduce pain (r = - 0.265; p = 0.008).Conclusions: Age and place of residence should be taken into account when planning analgesic therapy for post-surgery patients, as those over 60 years of age were less likely to use a declared pain management strategy, and patients living in small towns and rural areas were significantly less likely to manage and reduce pain. The use of catastrophising strategy determined a lower ability to control and reduce pain.

Features of the experience of loneliness in adults depending on the coping strategies

The article is devoted to the features of loneliness experienced by adults, depending on coping strategies. The main approaches to the study of loneliness and coping (strategies of coping behavior) are highlighted. It is shown that adults when experiencing loneliness have different strategies of coping behavior, and each of these groups’ experiences loneliness according to its characteristics of coping behavior. It was also found that most of the subjects have a high and average level of loneliness. A direct connection was established between the level of loneliness and the gender of the subjects. Statistically significant differences were found in the choice of strategies of coping behavior in adulthood depending on gender, place of residence and composition of the parental family. The peculiarities of experiencing loneliness depending on strategies of coping behavior are also revealed and described. The high level of significance of the problem of experiencing loneliness in adulthood is outlined, regardless of the country of residence. However, special socio-cultural factors influencing the choice of coping strategies among adults in Ukraine are also indicated. The prospects of the research are indicated both in the context of an empirical study of the features of the experience of loneliness of an adult depending on strategies of coping behavior, namely, an in-depth analysis of various aspects of the experience of loneliness in adults in terms of the influence of these aspects on the general level of loneliness. The expediency of developing and approving a program of psychological support for adults with a high level of loneliness and non-constructive coping strategies (for adults’ psychological well-being) is emphasized.