Coping Checklist Research Articles

Universal delivery of a dialectical behaviour therapy skills programme (DBT STEPS-A) for adolescents in a mainstream school: feasibility study

The social and emotional wellbeing of young people is an area of increased focus for policy and practice. Schools are required to provide a holistic approach to education that includes teaching and implementing programmes designed to promote resilience and address difficult behaviours. Preliminary studies in the USA have shown promise for DBT STEPS-A (Dialectical Behavior Therapy- Skills for Emotional Problem Solving- Adolescents) but there have been no published UK evaluations. The aim of this study was to adapt DBT STEPS-A for a UK setting and test the feasibility of training teachers to deliver this universal programme as part of a mainstream school curriculum. The programme was delivered by teachers to students aged 13–14 years (n = 183) using a waitlist (non-randomised) controlled design. We investigated potential changes in level of emotional and behavioural problems using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Difficulties of Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and changes in psychological skills using the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) and DBT Ways of coping checklist (DBT-WCCL). The views of students (n = 50) and teachers (n = 4) were explored using a participant satisfaction questionnaire. Feasibility outcomes indicate that it is possible to recruit participants from a school setting and to train teachers in the delivery of DBT STEPS-A. A statistically significant treatment effect was observed on the SDQ prosocial subscale (p = 0.04) with a large effect size (0.92). The intervention and some measures were acceptable to participants and teachers. Areas to improve future implementation are discussed.

КЛИНИЧЕСКИЕ ПРОЯВЛЕНИЯ ПСОРИАЗА: ПСИХОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ КОНТЕКСТ

Psoriasis is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease. Stress is considered to be one of the causes of this pathology. The subjective perception of stress and the individual's ability to cope with stress are closely related to the person's ability to understand feelings and emotions, coping strategies, psychological defense mechanisms, stress resistance and executive functions (cognitive flexibility). Objective. To study the severity of psychological and neuropsychological parameters in relation to the clinical manifestations of psoriasis. Materials and methods. 67 patients with psoriasis were enrolled in the study. Research methods: anamnesis, Visual Analogue Scale (for itch intensity), The Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, Life Style Index, Social Readjustment Rating Scale, The Ways of Coping Checklist, Screening for Somatoform Symptoms and computer version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Results. Low emotional intelligence, maladaptive coping strategies, primitive psychological defense mechanisms, somatization, low stress resistance and impaired executive functions are increasing the chances of developing a more severe clinical picture in patients with psoriasis. Conclusions. The research findings are indicating the importance of a multidisciplinary treatment approach to psoriasis (dermatologist, psychologist or psychotherapist). Perhaps, team approach can be useful on the early intervention strategies, for treatment improvement and relapse prevention in patients with psoriasis.

Impact of Stress-Coping Strategies on Personnel’s Mental Health during Naval Dispatch of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) Destroyer

Predicting mental health problems is an important military concern as such problems have a negative impact on continuity of operations, especially at sea. One component of resilience, generally a strong predictor of mental health, is coping strategies which are more specific, measurable and easier to discuss than resilience. To examine whether such strategies would have a positive impact on mental health while at sea, we collected the 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) for 134 of 199 crew members dispatched overseas for four months at the beginning (Time 1; T1) and the end of the dispatch (Time 2; T2). Stress-coping strategies were assessed using the Way of Coping Checklist at T1. The relationships between demographic factors, coping strategies, and GHQ-30 scores at T1 survey were examined. Subsequently, using factors associated with the differences in GHQ-30 scores between T1 and T2 (ΔGHQ-30), we created a multivariate model to identify predictor of ΔGHQ-30. In T1 survey, no demographic features but five stress-coping strategies were associated with GHQ-30 scores. In the multivariate model, positive cognitive coping was the only predictor of ΔGHQ-30. Assessing stress-coping strategies could predict individual’s resilience to occupational stress at sea, and teaching positive cognitive coping would improving their resilience.

Subjective Assessment of Stress and its Relationship with Neuroendocrine Mechanisms of its Development in Obstetricians-Gynecologists against the Background of Professional Burnout

The purpose of this сase-control study was to investigate the factors of subjective assessment of stress and their relationship with neuroendocrine mechanisms of its development in obstetricians-gynecologists against the background of professional burnout. Methods and Results: A total of 96 physicians and nurses from the different clinics specializing in both obstetrics and gynecology were surveyed. The Russian versions of MBI, BDI, SF-12, FFMQ, MAAS, and Coping strategies (the Ways of Coping Checklist) were applied. Blood serum/plasma was tested on the concentration of hormones (DHEA-C and TSH), melatonin, serotonin, and dopamine. Saliva cortisol was also estimated. In the present study, 43.75% of the physicians and nurses showed a high degree of burnout, which was comparable to that among physicians and nurses in other studies. Physicians and nurses with a high degree of burnout had more expressed coping strategies like Confrontive coping, Distancing, Self-controlling, Seeking social support and Escape-avoidance. Also, they have more expressed level of depressive manifestations. We found significant correlations between some factors of subjective assessment of stress (like coping and mindfulness) and neuroendocrine biomarkers. Adaptive coping like Planful problem-solving correlated negatively with the level of melatonin, and subscales of the mindfulness questionnaire were correlated negatively with levels of some biomarkers. Thus, we concluded that coping strategies and mindfulness could theoretically contribute to a decrease in the secretion of several hormones. Conclusion: Physicians and nurses with a low degree of burnout have a greater level of mindfulness and a lower level of some maladaptive coping strategies – Confrontive coping, Distancing, Escape-avoidance. Our results focus on the predictive role of these factors of subjective assessment of stress, in particular, Confrontive coping and mindfulness, in burnout syndrome. The present data confirm that there are some psychological and physiological aspects related to stress in the medical profession.

Nurses' coping strategies during and after an adult in-hospital resuscitation attempt: A scoping study.

A scoping study was conducted to identify and synthesise literature about nurse coping strategies during and after cardiopulmonary resuscitations (CPRs). Nurses frequently engage in CPR events that often lead to patient deaths thereby negatively impacting nurses' mental and physical health compromising patient safety. Little research has been conducted to explore coping strategies nurses use during and after a CPR event. Arksey and O'Malley's framework was used to guide the review process and PRISMA-ScR checklist for reporting the study. A comprehensive search (January 1, 1996 - August 1, 2021) using ProQuest, PsychINFO, CINAHL and PubMed databases to locate peer-reviewed publications that met the study's inclusion criteria. We included publications of data collected from nurses who experienced a non-simulated adult CPR event in an acute or critical care hospital setting. Lazarus and Folkman's Ways of Coping Checklist, based on the transactional theory of stress and coping, was used to guide data analysis and categorise and label the coping strategies used by nurses. The search returned 2689 articles, and nine articles comprised the sample after excluding duplicates, titles, abstracts and full-text articles not meeting the inclusion criteria. Nine articles were reviewed to identify the coping strategies used by nurses during and after a CPR event. These strategies were grouped into eight categories. When resuscitation was successful, the experience carried little to no stress. The coping strategy most often used during a resuscitation attempt was planful problem solving. The coping strategies used after a failed resuscitation attempt were planful problem solving and seeking social support. Nurses reported that debriefing sessions were not desirable venues for discussing post-resuscitation stress. The provision of support by employers and colleagues must be intentionally planned and offered to nurses exposed to the stress induced by unsuccessful attempts at CPR.

Perceived stress, quality of life, and coping skills among patients with schizophrenia in symptomatic remission

BackgroundSchizophrenia is one of the worst diseases with its ubiquitous challenges due to its unique psychopathology and life events. Patients with schizophrenia use various coping strategies to overcome distress. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between perceived stress, quality of life, and coping skills in patients with schizophrenia in remission. A total of 48 consecutive patients of schizophrenia, in remission, attending outpatient department of psychiatry at Academic hospital, South India, who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited for the present study. The participants were assessed on Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale, Ways of Coping Checklist – Revised and Perceived Stress Scale and WHO Quality of Life. Results were analyzed using appropriate statistical package software v 16.0.ResultHighest medial was found in self-controlling and positive reappraisal coping skills. Distancing is associated with high physical domain of quality of life whereas patients with good social support score more in social and physical domain of quality of life.ConclusionPatients with history of schizophrenia even though in remission dwell a stressful life. They often need different kind of social support or cognitive aids. In that view, studying their stress level, ability to cope with it, and quality of life will help us to manage them in better way.

Symptom Classes in Decompensated Liver Disease

Patients with decompensated liver disease have been categorized by disease severity. This analysis sought to classify patients with end-stage liver disease based on symptoms rather than disease state and to identify distinct severity classes of physical and psychological symptoms. Patients with a model for end-stage liver disease-sodium score of 15 or higher were recruited from liver clinics in 2 health care organizations. They completed the Condensed Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, Revised Ways of Coping Checklist, Patient Health Questionnaire, Life Orientation Test-Revised, and the Short-Form Health Survey. Cross-sectional data were analyzed using latent class mixture modeling. The sample (N= 191; age, 56.6 ± 11.1 y; 33.5% ETOH; 28.3% nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; 13.1% autoimmune/primary biliary cholangitis/primary sclerosing cholangitis) was predominantly male (64.2%), Child-Turcotte-Pugh class C (49.5%), with an average model for end-stage liver disease-sodium score of 18.7 ± 4.9. Three distinct classes of symptoms were identified, as follows: mild (26.7%), moderate (41.4%), or severe (31.9%) symptoms. Symptom classes were independent of disease severity and demographic characteristics, except age. All Condensed Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale symptoms and Patient Health Questionnaire scores were significantly different across the 3 classes (P < .05). The symptom classes also differed significantly in physical and mental quality of life, optimism, and avoidance coping behaviors (all P < .001). Patient-reported symptom severity occurred independent of disease severity, contrary to common assumptions. Focusing on the moderate and severe symptom classes as well as patient history of end-stage liver disease complications may enhance providers' ability to improve symptom management for this population.

The Effect of Stress on Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder: Active Coping Strategy and Self-Control as Mediators.

Objective The aim of this study was to verify the effects of stress on compulsive sexual behavior disorder and the mediating effects of active coping strategies and self-control. Methods A self-reporting scale was administered to 300 adults aged 20 to 39, and the collected data were analyzed. The measures used for the study included a perceived stress scale, the way of coping checklist, a brief self-control scale, and an online compulsive sexual behavior disorder scale. Results The correlations between stress and active coping strategy, stress and lack of self-control, and lack of self-control and compulsive sexual behavior disorder were -0.18 (p<0.01), 0.38 (p<0.01), and 0.26 (p<0.01), respectively. Conclusion First, stress level was positively correlated with compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Second, self-control completely mediates the relationship between stress and compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Third, self-control and active coping strategies had sequential mediating effects in that order.

Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies among Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of stress among healthcare professionals, and to study coping strategies adopted to deal with stress. This is an observational study of a cross-sectional type. A self-administered survey was used to determine the personal and professional characteristics. The Perceived Stress Scale to assess the level of perceived stress. The Ways of Coping Checklist to measure coping strategies. The Perceived Stress Scale shows that the study population is susceptible to stress. Problem-focused coping emerged as the most frequently used coping process for coping with stress. The results lead us to question the importance of coping strategies and to propose effective solutions, the use of new technology is recommended for coping with stress.

Work Stress, Coping Strategies, and Health-Related Quality of Life among Nurses at an International Specialized Cancer Center.

Objective:The main objective of this study is to identify work stress, coping strategies, and health-related quality of life and the relationship between them among oncology nurses. Methods:A cross-sectional design was conducted at King Hussein Cancer Center. A convenience sampling technique was used to select 446 nurses. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized using three scales: the Work Stressor Inventory for Nurses in Oncology, Revised Ways of Coping Checklist, and Research and Development 36-Item for Health Survey. Results:The results showed that the levels of work stress (2.61/5), using coping strategy scale (1.59/4), and health-related quality of life scale (50.54/100) were moderate. The total mean value of the work stress scale had a significant positive correlation with the total mean value of the coping strategy scale (r=0.322*, p < 0.05) and a significant negative correlation with health-related quality of life. Moreover, there is no significant correlation between the total mean value of the coping strategy scale and the health-related quality of life scale (r=0121, p >0.05). Age and years of experience were negatively correlated with health-related quality of life (r=0.217 and 0.182 respectively, p < 0.05). Conclusion:Oncology nurses had a moderate level of work stress, coping strategy scale, health-related quality of life scale. Work stress has a significant correlation with using coping strategies and health-related quality of life among oncology nurses. Proper training regarding effective coping strategies is required. More studies are recommended to examine work stress, coping strategy, and health quality of life among oncology nurses.

Psychosomatic aspects of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis

AimsThe aim of this study is to assess the level of alexithymia, coping strategies and stress contribution to illness in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis in order to increase effectiveness of dermatological treatment.Method59 patients with atopic dermatitis, 67 with psoriasis and 65 healthy control group individuals were included in the cross-sectional study. Predominant complains of the patients: itching, widespread rashes and rashes on the open areas of the skin. In 85% patients with skin pathology onset of the disease and relapses were associated with stress, in 15% other factors.“The 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale” was used to assess alexithymia. “The Ways of Coping Checklist, Lazarus” was used to assess coping-strategies. “The Holmes and Rage Stress Inventory” was used to assess stress contribution to illness. Significance level: p &lt; 0,05.ResultThe levels of alexithymia (p = 0.002), difficulty identifying feelings subscale (p = 0.02) and externally-oriented thinking subscale (p = 0.002) in patients with skin pathology (especially in those with psoriasis) were higher than in the control group.Patients with skin pathology turned out to be more susceptible to stress factors (p = 0.025) and less often use coping strategy “seeking social support” (p = 0.037).Patients with skin pathology with high levels of alexithymia and difficulty identifying feelings subscale more likely to use maladaptive “escape-avoidance” coping (p = 0.001).Patients with atopic dermatitis who find difficult to describe feelings are more likely to use maladaptive coping “distancing”(p = 0.002).In patients with psoriasis high levels of alexithymia and externally-oriented thinking subscale scores are associated with less common use of the adaptive coping “problem solving”(p = 0.001). Moreover, in patients with psoriasis high levels of difficulty identifying feelings subscale are associated with more common use of maladaptive “escape-avoidance” coping (p = 0.001).ConclusionThe results of the study confirm the need to include psychological assessment and psychotherapy in the treatment plan for patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis in order to improve emotional awareness and to develop more adaptive coping-strategies in patients.

The Relationship Between Pregnant Women' Emotional Intelligence and Fear of Childbirth, Readiness For Childbirth and Ways of Coping with Stress

Aim: This study was carried out to determine the relationship between pregnant women's emotional intelligence (EI) , Fear of Labor (FOC), Readiness for Labor (RFC), and ways of overcoming the stress.&#x0D; &#x0D; Material and Method: The research is descriptive-correlational. The study was carried out with 665 pregnant women who were in the third trimester and admitted to the obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Nothern Turkey. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Emotional Intelligence Assessment Scale (EIAS), Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (PSEQ) and Ways of Coping Checklist (WCCL). Percentage, mean ± standard deviation and median, Kolmogorov Smirnov test, Pearson Correlation and Multiple Regression analysis were used to analyze the data.&#x0D; &#x0D; Results: In the study, the pregnant women's emotional intelligence (EI) score average was 126.30±28, the RFC average was 29.25±4.77 and the FOC average was 27.46±4.58. Self-Confident Approach, Optimistic Approach and Finding Social Support dimensions of the Stress Coping Styles Scale in Pregnant Women were found to be above the average score, and the Desperate Approach and Submissive Approach dimensions scores were below the average score. It was determined that there was a weakly significant positive correlation between the total EI scores of the pregnant women and the mean scores of RFC, FOC and coping with stress (p

Specifics of chronic fatigue syndrome coping strategies identified in a French flash survey during the COVID-19 containment.

The COVID‐19 pandemic has focused health systems on supporting patients affected by this virus. Meanwhile in the community, many other contained patients could only use self‐care strategies, especially in countries that have set up a long and strict containment such as France. The study aimed to compare coping strategies deployed by patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS; a poorly recognised syndrome) to those with better known and referenced chronic conditions. An online flash survey was conducted during the containment period in partnership with French Patients Organizations including ME/CFS national association. Therefore, ‘Brief COPE’ version of Lazarus and Folkman's Ways of Coping Check List has been adapted to the specificity of the containment. The survey was e‐distributed in France from 15 April to 11 May 2020. Differences of coping strategies were analyzed using Wilcoxon–Mann–Withney test. Amongst 637 responses, 192 were complete, presenting a wide variety of diseases, including 93 ME/CFS. The latter have significantly different coping strategies than recognised diagnosed diseases patients: similar uses of emotion focused coping but less uses of seek social support and problem‐focused copings. In conclusion, coping strategies are different for those who deal with the daily experience of ME/CFS, highly disabling chronic condition with diagnostic ambiguity, low degree of medical and social recognition and without treatment. Better understanding of those strategies is needed to provide the means for health promotion researchers, managers and clinicians, to accompany those patients.

Personality dimensions and coping strategies in remitted bipolar disorder

IntroductionThe influence of personality on how people deal with stressful situations has long been discussed. In bipolar disorder, these two entities seem to have a role in the outcome of the disease.ObjectivesTo study the relationships between coping strategies in stressful situations and personality dimensions in euthymic bipolar patients.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study of 30 patients followed for bipolar disorder in remission, at the psychiatric outpatient clinic at the Hédi Chaker Uuniversity Hospital in Sfax. We used a socio-demographic and clinical data sheet and the Ten Items Personality Inventory (TIPI) to evaluate personality dimensions and the Ways Of Coping Checklist (WWC) for the assessment of coping.ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 43.77 years, the sex ratio was 0.5. Bipolar I disorder was diagnosed in 93% of patients. WCC : -Coping focused on the problem : 70% of the patients. -Emotion-centered coping : 20% of patients -Coping focused on seeking social support : 10% of patients. TIPI : Conciousness was the most represented trait of personality (36.7%), agreableness (30%) and extraversion (20%). Extraversion was associated with coping focused on the problem: (p=0.015). Agreableness was associated with coping focused on seeking social support:(p=0.033).ConclusionsOur study showed that conciousness is the most common trait of personality in bipolar disorder patients. The coping focused on the problem is the most frequent strategy which correlated with extraversion, so, personality dimensions appear as a target for cognitive interventions.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

How does coping influence impulsivity in patients with remitted bipolar disorder?

IntroductionImpulsivity is an important component of the phenomenology of bipolar disorder. Recent studies show that bipolar patients use various strategies to deal with life stressors and with the discomfort related to their disease.ObjectivesTo study impulsivity and coping strategies in bipolar patients in remission phase and the factors associated with them.Methods A cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study of 30 patients followed for bipolar disorder, in remission, at the psychiatric outpatient clinic at CHU Hédi Chaker in Sfax. We used a socio-demographic and clinical data sheet, the Ways Of Coping Checklist to assess coping and the Barratt Impulsivity Scale to assess impulsivity.ResultsThe average age was 43.77 years, the sex ratio was 0.5. Smoking was found in 30%. Bipolar I disorder was diagnosed in 93% of patients. The mean age of onset was 27.8 years, and the mean duration of illness was 15 years. *Impulsivity was found in 20% of cases and was correlated with the duration of the disease (p = 0.016) and smoking (p = 0.009). *Coping focused on the problem present in 70% of patients, correlated with the duration of the disease (p = 0.032) and coping (p=0.02). *Emotion-centered coping revealed in 20% of patients, correlated with gender (p = 0.037) and cognitive impulsivity (p=0.032). *Coping focused on seeking social support was present in 10% of patients.ConclusionsImpulsivity is quite frequent in remitted bipolar patients, who mainly used problem-focused coping and a cognitive management of the stressful event. Thus the hypothesis was that impulsivity is core trait of bipolar disorder.

Trait anxiety and coping strategies among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic

IntroductionThe current pandemic wave of COVID-19 has become a global threat. Healthcare professionals (HCP), by being on the front line in managing this pandemic, confronted high levels of stress and traumatic experiences.ObjectivesThe aims of our study were to evaluate the trait-anxiety among Tunisian HCP and its impact on coping strategies.MethodsA cross- sectional descriptive and analytic study conducted among Tunisian HCP during November and December 2020. The data was collected by an online questionnaire distributed through social media. The trait-anxiety was assessed using the “General Anxiety questionnaire of Spielberger” (STAI-Y-B) and the “Ways of coping checklist revised (WCC-R) questionnaire” identified three types of coping (problem-focused, emotion-focused and social-support seeking).ResultsParticipants were 135 HCP (71 males and 64 females) and aged from 24 to 61 years old (average age 31.98 years; SD 6.59 years). Of HCP involved in the study, 61.5% were single, 36.3% were married and 2.2% were divorced. Seventy-two of them had a trait-anxious. As a coping style, 85.2% of participants used problem-focused style, 88.9% of them used emotion-focused style and 63% of them used social support seeking style. The analysis of WCC-R showed that anxious HCP used emotion-focused coping more than non anxious HCP (p= 0.028). However, there was no significant difference in problem-focused or social support seeking coping styles and presence of trait-anxiety.ConclusionsIn our study, we find that the most anxious Tunisian HCP focused on emotions strategies. Personality traits play on attitudes of coping strategies.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

COPING MECHANISMS AND DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENTS WITH DRUG ABUSE

Introduction: The high level of depression or life problems among adolescents impacted different coping for each individual intending to overcome the problems that occur. This study aimed to determine the relationship between levels of depression and coping mechanisms of adolescent drug users.Methods: This study was a correlational analytic research with cross-sectional approach. The sampling technique was simple random sampling. This study's sample was 32 adolescent drug users undergoing rehabilitation at the drug rehabilitation facility Rumah Obit Surabaya. Depression variables was measured used the Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire, and variable coping mechanisms used the Ways of Coping Checklist questionnaire. The data was analyzed using the rho spearmen test.Results: The analysis result showed that coping mechanism had a significant relationship with depression in adolescent drug users with p-value = 0.001 (p &lt;0.05). The adolescent drug users mostly experienced mild depression as many as 25 respondents (78.1) and maladaptive coping mechanism as many as 21 (65.6%).Conclusion: Optimizing socialization to increase knowledge about the impact of drug use on adolescents is needed to prevent depression in adolescent therefore they can use adaptive coping mechanisms in problem solving.

Mindful attention awareness and cognitive defusion are indirectly associated with less PTSD-like symptoms via reduced maladaptive posttraumatic cognitions and avoidance coping

Recently, the effects of mindfulness-based interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been studied. However, we lack knowledge of the processes or mechanisms through which mindfulness influences resilience or promotes recovery following exposure to trauma. In this study, we examine the process by which mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral factors such as posttraumatic negative cognition and avoidance behaviors are associated with reduced PTSD-like symptoms. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 885 university students, using the Trauma Experience Questionnaire, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, revised Ways of Coping Checklist, and a brief version of the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory. Data from 254 participants who experienced trauma with PTSD-like symptoms were analyzed. The final model using SEM indicated no direct association of mindful attention awareness on PTSD-like symptoms, a small direct association of cognitive defusion on PTSD-like symptoms, and a large indirect association mediated by posttraumatic negative cognitions and avoidance coping. Owing to the study’s cross-sectional design, strong conclusions cannot be drawn regarding the causal relationship of mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral factors or generalizations. However, our findings suggest that it would be worthwhile to continue to clarify the mechanism of mindfulness and to investigate its use in the treatment of PTSD. In the future, a highly accurate study design will hopefully be used to examine the mechanisms of several different factors associated with improvement in posttraumatic stress symptoms, preferably including them in the same model.

Gender differences in factors associated with resilience for health-related quality of life in persons with epilepsy

PurposeWe determined whether resilience factors such as self-efficacy, stress coping styles, and social support were differentially associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in men and women with epilepsy after controlling for depression, anxiety, and daily-life stress. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 129 adults with epilepsy. The Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31 (QOLIE-31), Epilepsy Self-Efficacy Scale, Way of Stress Coping Checklist, Social Support Scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Daily Hassles Scale were used. Stepwise linear regression analyses were performed. ResultsExcept for medication effects, there were no gender differences in the QOLIE-31 and its subscales. The medication effects score was higher in men than in women after controlling for BDI scores. The BDI scores were independently associated with the QOLIE-31 score in men and women. Epilepsy self-efficacy was associated with the QOLIE-31 in men, whereas social support was associated with the QOLIE-31 in women. Coping strategies were associated with the QOLIE-31 in neither men nor women. Seizure frequency, daily-life stress, and anxiety were also negatively associated with the QOLIE-31, but only in men. The coefficients of determination were 0.637 and 0.587 in the men’s and women’s models, respectively. ConclusionsThe influence of self-efficacy and social support on HRQoL differed between men and women with epilepsy even after controlling for psychological distress. These findings could contribute to the development of successful gender-specific psychosocial interventions to improve HRQoL in men and women with epilepsy.

Personality and coping styles in medical internees: A cross-sectional study

Background and AimsMedical education is an elaborate course requiring knowledge assimilation, skill development, and academic perfection. Emerging out of the course successfully is a strenuous process which tests students’ psychological domains like personality, coping skills, and so on. The present study was planned with this primary objective of assessing the personality traits, psychoactive-substance use, and coping skills in the medical students and the secondary objective of finding the impact of personality and psychoactive-substance use on coping styles.MethodsThe study was conducted on internees, recruited on individual approach over a period of one year. Ethical clearance was taken. Consenting candidates were administered sociodemographic proforma, the Eysenck Personality Inventory, and the coping checklist. Pearson’s correlation and independent t-test were used for analysis.ResultsA total of 167 internees took part in study. On personality assessment, mean score of extraversion was 12.56 (±3.78) suggesting ambiversion and neuroticism was 9.36 (±4.89) suggesting mixed neurotic traits. Thirty four (20%) used psychoactive-substance. Problem-solving, distraction-positive, and acceptance-redefinition were frequently used coping styles. Extraversion correlated positively with distraction-negative (p&lt;0.01) and negatively with acceptance-redefinition (p=0.03). Neuroticism had significant positive correlation with problem-solving (p=0.03), distraction-positive (p&lt;0.01), distraction-negative (p&lt;0.01), faith-religion coping (p&lt;0.001), and blame-denial coping (p&lt;0.001). On gender-wise assessment, males used more of distraction-negative (p=0.02) and females used more of faith-religion coping styles (p=0.02). Psychoactive-substance users elaborated more of distraction-negative and less of acceptance-redefinition coping.Internees had ambiversion and mixed neurotic personality traits. Their personality and substance use had significant influence on the types of coping styles used. There is need of training to effectively manage stress using appropriate coping strategies based on their personality.