Coping Strategies Of Women Research Articles

Women with breast cancer living with one breast after a mastectomy

Aim: To explore the impact of mastectomy on the body image of women with breast cancer. Design: A qualitative study with a phenomenological approach. Methods: Thirty women (n = 30) with post-mastectomy breast cancer were obtained through a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using in-depth and semi-structured individual interviews to explore the experiences of the participants and the meanings they attribute to them. The data was analysed using the Van Manen method and with the help of NVivo 12 software. Results: Three main themes were identified in this study: “breast meaning”, “self-concept”, and coping strategies for women after mastectomy. Breasts are interpreted as a symbol of female status that reflects femininity and attractiveness. Mastectomy can cause changes in appearance, which can affect women’s body image, self-concept, and social interaction. Emotional intensive coping and problem-solving intensive coping are coping strategies used by women after mastectomy. Conclusion: Breasts are synonymous with femininity, beauty, and attractiveness. Therefore, many women feel that they have lost their femininity and self-confidence after losing their breasts due to mastectomy.

Factors Affecting Behaviors of Women with Breast Cancer Facing Intimate Partner Violence Based on PRECEDE-PROCEED Model.

Introduction: More than half of women in Iran experience intimate partner violence (IPV). This study aimed to explore IPV in women with breast cancer (BC) in Ardabil, Iran. Moreover, the predictors of violence and women’s reactions against violence were examined.Methods: Using a convenient sampling method, the current cross-sectional study was performed on 211 women with BC in northwest of Iran. To collect data, a questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics and items based on PRECEDE-PROCEED model and women's reaction to violence was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS Ver. 20 and descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: In this study, 190 (90%) subjects reported that they had experienced IPV in the preceding year. Only 27(12.8%) women were familiar with all forms of violence. Moreover, 141 (66.8%) and 160 (75.8%) women had no access to counseling centers and life skill training courses, respectively. Women mostly had adopted emotion-oriented coping strategies when facing IPV. The results of multivariate regression analysis indicated that enabling factors and knowledge were predictors of problem-oriented coping strategies in women.Conclusion: Empowered women, for the most part, were better educated and had more access to social resources than others. Therefore, empowering women can help reduce the amount of violence they might have to encounter. It is essential that supporting and empowering centers for women be established in the society and efficient laws be enacted to fight IPV.

Mental Health Conditions and Coping Strategies In Women With HIV and AIDS: A Systematic Review

In terms of mental health, people who know that they have AIDS will experience prolonged mental suffering. Purpose: This systematic study aims to review the mental health conditions in women with HIV/AIDS and how coping strategies are used. This systematic study has inclusion criteria, namely women with HIV/AIDS, where the articles used in English and Indonesian from 2015 to 2020, were carried out a systematic review using five databases (Scopus, Proquest, Science Direct, CINAHL, and Pubmed). Articles are written systematically based on the PRISMA protocol. The review results showed that women with HIV use coping focused on emotional problems and strategies. Various changes were experienced by women with HIV/AIDS. One of which can cause mental health problems. Implementing coping strategies will reduce anxiety and improve mental health

Experience of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a systematic review of qualitative research.

Chemotherapy exerts adverse effects on physical, psychological and social functioning in women with breast cancer, which may trigger adaptive activities. For a better understanding of the experience of symptoms associated with chemotherapy and the development of targeted interventions, this study aimed to (a) explore the patient experience of chemotherapy, (b) identify patients' strategies to cope with the side effects and distress and (c) explore the link between their experience and coping strategies. Qualitative studies were included if they explored the experience or coping strategies of women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. Instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute were used to critically appraise the methodological quality, extract data and aggregate findings from the included studies. Twelve studies presenting findings from 184 women with breast cancer who had received chemotherapy were included in this review. Three synthesized findings were identified from 8 categories based on 91 original findings: (1) Women living with chemotherapy experienced various stressful side effects, and their lives were changed. (2) Supportive care to address needs is essential to help women get through this difficult time. (3) They engaged in numerous types of coping strategies to deal with side effects and adapt to this difficult journey. Moreover, the link between experience of chemotherapy and coping strategies is based on the Lazarus' stress and coping theory. Although the experience of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy is individualized, we concluded that the distressing experience related to chemotherapy as a stimulus was viewed as a stressor that demands coping or adaptation. Based on the Lazarus stress and coping theory, the ability of a woman to appraise how chemotherapy changed her life and how she appraises her resources to cope with chemotherapy are essential. The results highlight that pre-chemotherapy care programmes, information support systems, social support groups and individual effective coping strategies are helpful in reducing treatment-related distress levels and enhance self-care effects at home.

CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF POLYGAMY: AN UNDERSTANDING OF COPING STRATEGIES BY CO-WIVES IN POLYGAMOUS MARRIAGE

Polygamy has become common practice in many communities including Pakistan. Objectives: The study investigated the causes of polygamy, outcomes, and women's coping strategies to deal with co-wives’ relationships. Method: Exploratory qualitative method was used. Data was collected from 11 polygamous women who consented to an in-depth interview. The study was conducted in 2017 with approval from the institution and polygamous women. Results: Three themes emerged from the study based on findings. First theme: reasons of polygamy as findings indicated that majority of females allowed their husbands for co-wives due to infertility or having only female children, husband’s love marriage, and in-laws family pressure because they wanted to secure their marriage instead of divorce. Second theme: outcomes of polygamy as jealousy, unhappiness, and loneliness due to injustice, by the spouse were explored as potential pitfalls of polygamy. The advantages of polygamy were included sharing in-house responsibilities and child-rearing. Third theme: The coping strategies used by polygamous women have included faith in religion, fate role, and compromise with the co-wives. Conclusion: Polygamous women though claimed that polygamy has disadvantages but to them, divorce is not an option. The policymakers and law enforcement agencies should pass laws for the welfare of polygamous women. They must be educated through different seminars and programs to cope with the stress and manage other consequences of polygamy. The study is not against polygamy but the need to improve the family structure of polygamous families is a major concern.

Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Perceived Stress, Quality of Life, and Coping Strategies of Women With Breast Cancer With Spinal Metastasis Under Chemotherapy

Objectives: Women with breast cancer spinal metastases are highly prone to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resulting in the incidence of stress in these women The present study aimed to investigate the perceived stress and its effect on the quality of life (QoL) and coping strategies of female chemotherapy patients with breast cancer spinal metastases during the COVID-19 pandemic Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted during February 20, 2020 and May 21, 2020 at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences during the COVID-19 pandemic A total of 61 female chemotherapy patients with breast cancer spinal metastases completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Billings, SF-36 questionnaire, and Moos’ Coping Checklist The data were analyzed in SPSS using the Pearson correlation coefficient test at the significance level of P < 0 05 Results: The overall perceived stress level of the participants was high (51 10 ± 2 45) The overall score of coping strategies was 46 10 ± 1 15 while the scores of problem-and emotion-focused subscales were 22 25 ± 1 41 and 30 42 ± 01 30, respectively The perceived stress level had a significant correlation with overall coping (P = 0 009, r=0 8), emotion-focused coping (P = 0 04, r = 0 5), and problem-focused coping (P = 0 02, r = 0 6) strategies Finally, the results showed poor relationships between problem-focused and physical health (P = 0 009, r = 0 4), problem-focused mental health (P = 0 01, r = 0 4), emotion-focused and physical health (P = 0 02, r = 0 3), and emotion-focused and mental health (P = 0 03, r = 0 3) Conclusions: Based on the findings, there are direct correlations between the perceived stress (strong) and QoL (poor) levels of female chemotherapy patients with breast cancer spinal metastases and their coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic © 2021 The Author(s);

My Whole World Changed: A Qualitative Exploration of the Coping Experiences of Transgender Women After an HIV Diagnosis.

The aim of this study was to generate a theoretical stage model that describes transgender women's coping strategies and responses after a new HIV diagnosis. The sample included 18 transgender women living with HIV in a large metropolitan city in central Indiana. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using grounded theory methods. Participants commonly described the experience of being newly diagnosed with HIV as, having the world change. Four stages through which attempts at coping occurred were identified: having the world come crashing down; shutting out the world; living in a dark world; and reconstructing the world. This model advances our understanding of the social and behavioral factors that influence how transgender women cope with a new HIV diagnosis and how their coping responses influence entry and engagement in the HIV care continuum.

"I just can't sit around and do nothing!": A qualitative study of Indonesian women's experiences diagnosed with heart disease.

Research into cardiovascular disease and its management in Indonesia, where it currently accounts for 67% of all deaths, has heavily emphasized the biomedical aspects; little is known about the individual's experience of the disease, especially for Indonesian women. This study aimed to understand how gender shapes Indonesian women's experiences of living with heart disease in their daily lives. Twenty-six women aged 30-67 years were interviewed, and the transcriptions analyzed using a qualitative framework informed by intersectional approaches to gender and culture. Three major themes emerged: (i) the effect of cardiovascular disease on women's day-to-day activities, (ii) its effects on women's family relationships, and (iii) the women's coping strategies. The inability to fulfill their required social roles as mother or wife undermined the women's sense of self, a problem particularly acute in a cultural context where responsibility for maintaining harmony in the home and society is ascribed to women. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the ethnic and cultural backgrounds of women with cardiovascular disease, in order to deliver services that meet female patients' social, spiritual, and cultural needs.

Coping Strategies of Women Following the Diagnosis of Infertility in Their Spouses: A Qualitative Study

Background: Infertility affects women more profoundly than men, even when the male partner is the cause of infertility. Therefore, identifying the coping strategies of women in confrontation with their husbands' infertility is very important. Aim: This study aimed to explore women’s coping strategies following the diagnosis of infertility in their husbands. Method: This qualitative study was performed on 18 women whose husbands were diagnosed with infertility. The subjects were selected from those who referred to Milad Fertility Clinic and public health centers in Mashhad, Iran, through purposive sampling within 2014-2016. The data were collected by conducting semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was manually carried out using conventional content analysis. Results: The main theme emerged from the content analysis was the attempts to overcome the threat, including two categories, namely emotional coping and active coping. Emotional coping included strategies like attributing infertility to herself and others, selective disclosure, religious coping, seeking emotional support, as well as being considerate and offering verbal support to the spouse. active coping consisted of strategies namely attempting to verify the diagnosis, accepting infertility, searching for information, adhering to medical and surgical treatments, trying fertility superstitions, using alternative medicine, and changing lifestyle. Implications for Practice: Women may use a diverse set of coping strategies to adapt to their husbands’ infertility. A deep perception of these strategies is critical for controlling and managing the consequences of this diagnosis, designing interventions to strengthen preferred actions and strategies, as well as facilitating women’s coping with the infertility crisis of their spouses.

Challenges, Coping Strategies, and Social Support among Breast Cancer Patients in Ghana

Background. Despite the high incidence and mortality rate of breast cancer (BC) in Ghana, little attention has been given to the issue of how adult women cope with having BC. The aim of this study was to explore the challenges, coping strategies, and support systems among women diagnosed with BC in Ghana. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from February to August 2017 at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Ghana. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 202 women with a confirmed diagnosis of BC. Coping strategies of women with BC were assessed using the Brief-COPE. The associations between sociodemographic characteristics, social network/support, and coping strategies were assessed using linear regression models. Results. The most and least adopted active coping strategies were religious coping and humors, respectively. Self-distraction and substance use were the most and least adopted avoidant coping strategies, respectively. Spouses and children offered the most support to women with BC; having support from 5 or more sources was associated with higher mean active coping (beta [β] 1.14; 95% CI 0.66 to 1.62) and avoidant coping (β 1.46; 95% CI 0.98 to 1.94), as compared with having &lt;2 sources of social support. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that women diagnosed with BC in Ghana adopt varied coping strategies to deal with these challenges. The forms of coping strategies adopted by women diagnosed with BC are influenced by the extent of social support received. Psychosocial counseling and support should be an integral part of BC management. Exploring and including social networks could play an important role in the management of BC in Ghana.

Cardiovascular Risk and Outcomes in Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and intimate partner violence (IPV) are 2 major chronic problems that prevalently affect women's health and quality of life in the United States. However, whether female IPV survivors are at risk for developing adverse cardiovascular outcomes has not been clearly understood. This integrative review was conducted to bridge the literature gap by examining cardiovascular health in female adults with a history of IPV experience. Three electronic databases including PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science were used to search for studies published between 1998 and 2019. The search process followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Of the 229 records retrieved from the literature, 19 met the criteria for review. All included studies were quantitative research. Although the overall findings showed a mixed relationship between IPV and CVD, women who experienced abuse were more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors, have higher levels of CVD biomarkers, experience cardiovascular symptoms, and exhibit long-term cardiovascular complications when compared with nonabused women. Intimate partner violence is a stressor that directly and indirectly influences women's cardiovascular health. Therefore, it is essential for healthcare providers to routinely screen IPV status in clinical practice. Targeted interventions, such as assessing women's coping strategies and evaluating their cardiovascular health using a total risk factor approach, are recommended to prevent or reduce the deleterious effects of violence on this large, vulnerable group of women.

Salivary Cortisol, Subjective Stress and Quality of Sleep Among Female Healthcare Professionals.

BackgroundStress is globally recognised as a risk factor impacting workers’ health and workplace safety. Women healthcare professionals are at risk for considerable stress given the demanding nature of their jobs and current working conditions. This study assessed levels of stress among women healthcare professionals using measures of their cortisol levels, subjective stress and quality of sleep.Participants and MethodsThis study used a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 335 apparently healthy adult women healthcare professionals working in the United Arab Emirates. Participants provided morning and bedtime saliva samples for analysis of their cortisol levels. The Perceived Stress Scale, Stress Symptoms Scale, Brief Coping Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to assess perceived stress level, symptoms of stress, stress-coping strategies and sleep quality, respectively.ResultsIn total, 121 (36.15%) women had impaired morning cortisol levels (below the normal range of 0.094–1.551 µg/dL) and 48 (14.3%) had impaired bedtime cortisol levels (above 0.359 µg/dL). Around 57% of women reported moderate levels of perceived stress, with the most frequently reported stress symptoms being heart rate and back/neck pain. Poor sleep quality was reported by around 60% of participating women. No significant association was found between cortisol and psychosocial measurements of stress or sleep quality. However, night shift and longer shift duration (more than 8 hrs) were significantly associated with impaired morning and bedtime cortisol levels (P ≥ 0.05). Impaired cortisol levels were strongly dependent on using adaptive coping strategies such as active coping, acceptance and seeking emotional support (P ≥ 0.05).ConclusionEvaluating cortisol levels and subjective stress could help to identify groups with impaired response to stress and elevated cortisol levels. Our findings support the need to examine shift work patterns and stress coping strategies in women healthcare professionals to promote their health and productivity and maintain workplace safety.

Secular and religious coping strategiesin women: the age-related aspect

This article highlights the research fi ndings of the peculiarities of using secular and re-ligious coping strategies by women of different age groups (from age 19 to 70). Focusing on describing age dynamics in coping strategies, it shows that the tendency to use one or other methods of coping with diffi culties is age-related. The research revealed the differences with regard to the object of control in problematic situations and resource origin between two age groups: early and late adulthood. Additionally, it is assumed that women’s subjec-tive resource of overcoming diffi culties includes emotional self-control, while their objective resource--educational level and employment.

Women's coping strategies during the first three months of adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer.

AimThe aim was to explore stressful events, experienced problems and used coping strategies during the first three months of undergoing ET.DesignThis study used a mixed method design.MethodsA consecutive sample of 39 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer were included at the start of their adjuvant endocrine therapy. A daily coping assessment was used to create daily reports about stressful events or experienced problems and coping strategies.ResultsThe most frequently reported physical problems were sleeping difficulties. Anxiety was the most reported emotional problem. Patients used both emotion‐and problem‐focused coping, and sleeping difficulties were coped by relaxing, and anxiety was coped by thinking about something else.ConclusionsPatients experienced a variety of stressful events or problems during the first three months of endocrine therapy. They also used several coping strategies to endure the treatment.

Body image and its relationship with coping strategies: The views of Iranian breast cancer women following surgery.

Breast cancer treatments not only affect body image but also other aspects of women's lives. Women try to accept their appearance through coping strategies. This study aimed to determine the relationship between body image and coping strategies in women with breast cancer following surgery in southeast Iran. This is a descriptive study with correlational design. This study recruited 180 women with breast cancer following surgery via convenience sampling (71 women with mastectomy, 109 women with breast conservative surgery). Data were collected by a three-part questionnaire: Background data; Body Image Scale; Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory, and were analyzed by SPSS 19 and descriptive and analytical statistics (independent t, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression). The mean score of body image was 14.31±6.61 (ranged from 0 to 30), and coping strategies was 46.16±13.26 (ranged from 0 to 87). According to the mean scores, the women were, on average, satisfied with their body image. The most frequent strategy used was "positive rational acceptance" with a mean score of 23.30±6.19 and the least used strategy was "avoidance" with a mean score of 10.35±4.50. A significant relationship was observed between body image and coping strategies (r=.34, p=.001); women who felt worse about their own body image were found to use more coping strategies. Women using positive rational acceptance were likely to report favorable body image. Thus, promoting positive attitude regarding physical appearance and coping skills screening by trained nurses is recommended for all breast cancer patients after their surgery. Such screenings can result in an appropriate flow of information between nurses and patients about the body image and coping skills applied. Being aware of their positive coping strategies can help women, and prepare them to use the coping strategies required to improve their body image and to enhance their quality of life.

Stress and Coping Strategies in Women With and Without Intimate-Partner Violence Experiences

Stress and Coping Strategies in Women With and Without Intimate-Partner Violence Experiences

Using visual methods in human rights research

How might we use visual images in research on human rights violations? This article describes four approaches and the advantages and difficulties associated with each of them. It illustrates this with examples from research on how women in shantytowns experienced extreme poverty and state violence during the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, and on these women's coping strategies and human rights activism (Adams, 2012). The first approach, photo analysis, involves the collection and analysis of photographs showing the conditions that people experience. The second, art analysis, involves photographing and analyzing art works, in this case art works by the victims or survivors of human rights violations. The third, art elicitation, involves asking research participants to look at art works and talk about them or about subjects related to them. The final approach, the collection and analysis of ephemera with visual content, involves examining handbills, flyers, bulletins, newsletters, and the like. These visual methods are of value in and of themselves but can also serve to complement textual and other forms of data and enrich research that is primarily based on other methods.

Obligatory exercise and coping in treatment-seeking women with poor body image.

Obligatory exercise is characterized by continued exercise despite negative consequences, and intense negative affect when unable to exercise. Research suggests psychosocial differences between individuals that exercise in an obligatory manner and those that do not. It also has been speculated that obligatory exercise may serve coping and affect regulation functions, yet these factors have not been routinely examined in community women with poor body image. The purpose of the current study was to investigate psychosocial differences between obligatory and non-obligatory exercisers, and to examine the use of obligatory exercise as an avoidant coping strategy in a sample of women with poor body image. Women (n = 70) seeking treatment for body dissatisfaction were divided into obligatory and non-obligatory exercise groups based on their scores on the Obligatory Exercise Questionnaire. Participants then completed an assessment battery about eating pathology, body image, reasons for exercise, coping strategies, and negative affect. Independent t test analyses indicated that obligatory exercisers had significantly greater eating disorder symptomatology, avoidant coping, and appearance- and mood-related reasons for exercise than non-obligatory exercisers. Multiple regression analyses revealed that eating disorder symptomatology and avoidant coping were significant predictors of obligatory exercise. There are distinct psychosocial differences between women with poor body image who exercise in an obligatory fashion and those who do not. The current study suggests that obligatory exercise may serve as an avoidant coping strategy for women with poor body image. Enhancing healthy coping strategies may be an important addition to body image improvement programs. V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

Coping strategies of women with postpartum depression symptoms in rural Ethiopia: a cross-sectional community study

BackgroundMost women with postpartum depression (PPD) in low- and middle-income countries remain undiagnosed and untreated, despite evidence for adverse effects on the woman and her child. The aim of this study was to identify the coping strategies used by women with PPD symptoms in rural Ethiopia to inform the development of socio-culturally appropriate interventions.MethodsA population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in a predominantly rural district in southern Ethiopia. All women with live infants between one and 12 months post-partum (n = 3147) were screened for depression symptoms using the validated Patient Health Questionnaire, 9 item version (PHQ-9). Those scoring five or more, ‘high PPD symptoms’, (n = 385) were included in this study. The Brief Coping with Problems Experienced (COPE-28) scale was used to assess coping strategies. Construct validity of the brief COPE was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis.ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis of the brief COPE scale supported the previously hypothesized three dimensions of coping (problem-focused, emotion-focused, and dysfunctional). Emotion-focused coping was the most commonly employed coping strategy by women with PPD symptoms. Urban residence was associated positively with all three dimensions of coping. Women who had attended formal education and who attributed their symptoms to a physical cause were more likely to use both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. Women with better subjective wealth and those who perceived that their husband drank too much alcohol were more likely to use emotion-focused coping. Dysfunctional coping strategies were reported by women who had a poor relationship with their husbands.ConclusionsAs in high-income countries, women with PPD symptoms were most likely to use emotion-focused and dysfunctional coping strategies. Poverty and the low level of awareness of depression as an illness may additionally impede problem-solving attempts to cope. Prospective studies are needed to understand the prognostic significance of coping styles in this setting and to inform psychosocial intervention development.

South Asian women's coping strategies in the face of domestic violence in the United States

ABSTRACTWe conducted in-depth telephone interviews with a convenience sample of 20 South Asian women experiencing domestic violence in the United States. Utilizing the emotion-focused and problem-focused coping framework, the researchers analyzed the narratives of abused South Asian women. Emotion-focused coping strategies include (a) spirituality and/or religion and (b) the role of children. Problem-focused coping strategies include (c) informal and formal support and (d) strategies of resisting, pacifying, safety planning. Implications for practice and future research in the United States and internationally are discussed.