Disengagement Coping Styles Research Articles

Motor impulsivity and problematic online behaviours among university students: the potential mediating role of coping style

Motor impulsivity may be a predictor for generalized and specific problematic Internet uses in university students. The possible mediating role of coping style needs to be further researched. Among a sample of 726 Spanish university students, the present study examined the direct and indirect associations of motor impulsivity with generalized problematic internet use (GPIU), problematic social media use (PSMU), and problematic online gaming (POG), and the potential mediational role of coping styles. Results reported that motor impulsivity was directly associated with GPIU, PSMU, and POG, and indirectly associated with these problematic behaviours via the disengagement coping style. However, the engagement coping style did not play a mediating role. These findings suggest that disengagement coping style may, in part, explain the association between motor impulsivity and university students´ GPIU, PSMU, and POG, and provide empirical evidence for the theoretical hypothesis that different types of online problem behaviours share some aetiological mechanisms.

Teacher–student relationships and adolescents' classroom incivility: A moderated mediation model of moral disengagement and negative coping style

AbstractThe current study examined whether moral disengagement would mediate the association between adolescents' teacher–student relationships and classroom incivility and sex and age differences in this mediation model. We also examined whether the mediating effect of moral disengagement would be moderated by negative coping styles. Participants comprised 2646 Chinese students (mean age = 13.85 years, SD = 1.45). Results indicated that teacher–student relationships were significantly and negatively associated with adolescents' classroom incivility and moral disengagement mediated this association. Furthermore, this mediating process differed between males and females as well as early and middle adolescents. Specifically, males were more likely to use moral disengagement strategies to engage in classroom incivility than females. Age moderated the association between teacher–student relationships and moral disengagement as well as moral disengagement and classroom incivility, and these two associations became stronger for early adolescents than for middle adolescents. Moreover, negative coping styles moderated the association between teacher–student relationships and classroom incivility and the association between moral disengagement and classroom incivility. The direct association between teacher–student relationships and classroom incivility became nonsignificant for adolescents with high negative coping styles. The study contributes to clarifying the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying the effect of teacher–student relationships on adolescents' classroom incivility.

The Impact of the Chinese Thinking Style of Relations on Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Coping Styles.

Chinese people tend to view and analyze problems according to relations and holism, which can cause them to adopt positive coping strategies when facing difficulties, thus improving their mental health. This study verifies the relationship among relations as a dimension of the Chinese thinking style, coping strategies, and mental health through three research studies. Study 1 preliminarily examines a significant, positive correlation between Chinese relational thinking and mental health through questionnaire surveys. Study 2 primes Chinese relational thinking and explores its relationship with coping strategies. The results show that relational thinking could enhance individuals' active coping, seeking of emotional support and venting, problem avoidance, and attentional diversion coping strategies while reducing denial and disengagement coping styles. Study 3 further demonstrates through questionnaires across time points that Chinese relational thinking could improve individuals' mental health by enhancing their active coping and minimizing denial and disengagement. The results of the three studies are of great significance in terms of improving mental health from the perspective of Chinese relational thinking and coping strategies.

DISCRIMINATION AND COPING AMONG OLDER CHINESE IMMIGRANTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract Discriminatory events against Asians, especially Chinese, became rampant during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is difficult for older Chinese immigrants to effectively protect themselves from racism-related attacks due to their personal and social disadvantages. This study explored older Chinese immigrants’ experience of discrimination and coping strategies, as well as factors that influence their perceptions, attitudes, and coping preferences. Among 27 interviewees, 11 experienced discriminatory incidents themselves or known people around had been discriminated against during the pandemic. Thematic analysis revealed negative psychological impact of discrimination risk or experience. Most participants tended to adopt disengagement coping styles, such as avoidance, rationalization, and reducing social participation. Three primary influencing factors are: (1) perceived unkindness from government and public opinions; (2) concern for own health; (3) limited acculturation. Our findings suggest needing efforts to protect the safety of older Chinese immigrants, and raise their awareness and ability to defend themselves from racism and discrimination.

The Implication of Misinformation and Stigma in Age-Related Quality of Life, Depression, and Coping Mechanisms of Adult Patients with Psoriasis.

Background and Objectives: Stigma and lack of acceptance in society might have detrimental effects on the quality of life of patients with psoriasis, sometimes being comparable with other chronic diseases and conditions that affect the appearance of a patient, such as burns. Therefore, we surveyed our patients diagnosed with psoriasis to determine the implications of misinformation and stigma for their quality of life, depression, and coping strategies stratified by different age categories. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed for a sample size of a minimum of 45 patients considering a prevalence of psoriasis of 2–3% in the general population. The study participants (patients and controls) were given both a paper-based unstandardized questionnaire and an online version of three standardized surveys. The cohort of patients was further split into three age groups to determine their age-related quality of life and coping mechanisms. Results: The proportion of patients with a history of depression and depressive symptoms among patients with psoriasis was significantly higher. Multiple discrepancies were observed between patients and controls regarding questions that targeted stigma and misinformation. On the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (COPE-60) questionnaire, older patients were more likely to use positive coping mechanisms such as engagement and problem-focused coping, while the young patients were using more emotion-focused coping mechanisms. However, patients in the 30–50 age range group scored the highest on physical and mental health among all participants who filled the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) survey. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) results showed significantly more patients answering “a lot and very much” concerning embarrassment and social activities, while sexual difficulties affected the older patients. The strongest correlations with depression were observed in the young patient group, who believed that psoriasis can cause skin cancer (rho = 0.418) and who had sexual difficulties (rho = 0.414) and embarrassment (rho = 0.359) as evaluated by the DLQI survey. In the 30- to 50-year-old group, the strongest correlations were with the feeling of being stigmatized (rho = 0.376), having sexual difficulties (rho = 0.367) and disengagement coping style (rho = 273). Conclusions: While the respondents are reasonably well-informed regarding psoriasis, a degree of stigma remains, likely due to involuntary emotional responses such as repulsion and embarrassment. It is essential to establish initiatives aimed at educating the general public, raising awareness, and establishing a more tolerant social environment for psoriasis patients.

Compulsive Exercise, Exercise Identity, and Coping Styles

Abstract: Compulsive exercise occurs among the general exercise population and is associated with adverse mental and physical health outcomes. The current study explored compulsive exercise behavior regarding coping styles and its relationship to identity to improve our understanding of compulsive exercise among the general exercise population. A community sample of 1,209 adults (aged 18 – 89) with varied exercise levels completed an online survey. We examined the relationships between engagement and disengagement coping styles (as assessed by the Coping Strategy Inventory) and exercise identity (Exercise Identity Scale) with compulsive exercise (Compulsive Exercise Test) using correlation, regression, and moderation analyses. Emotion-focused engagement (β = .075, p < .01) and emotion-focused disengagement (β = .212, p < .001) coping styles significantly predicted compulsive exercise, as did exercise identity (β = .514, p < .001). Coping styles did not moderate the relationship between exercise identity and compulsive exercise behaviors. The results indicate that both adaptive and maladaptive emotion-based coping styles are associated with greater compulsive exercise behavior.

Effects of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Its Relationship With Death Attitudes and Coping Styles Among Hungarian, Norwegian, and Turkish Psychology Students.

The purpose of this study was to investigate mental effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its relationship with death attitudes and coping styles among Hungarian, Norwegian, and Turkish psychology students. A total of 388 participants from Hungary (N = 122, 31.4%), Norway (N = 96, 24.7%), and Turkey (N = 170, 43.8%) were recruited during the pandemic. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, the Carver Brief COPE Inventory, and the Death Attitude Profile-Revised were used. The results indicated that escape acceptance might be the most maladaptive death attitude during COVID-19, as it was related to poorer mental health among the Hungarian, Norwegian, and Turkish psychology students. Self-blame, behavioral disengagement, self-distraction, and substance use coping styles were also related to poorer mental health, whereas positive-reframing (only among the Hungarian and Turkish participants) and humor (only among the Norwegian participants) were related to better mental health among our sample in the context of COVID-19. The findings implied that death attitudes and coping styles may differ in their efficacy among the Hungarian, Norwegian, and Turkish participants. These differences were discussed in detail in the discussion part. During the pandemic, practitioners might pay closer attention to patients with higher escape acceptance death attitude and patients who use dysfunctional coping styles. Additionally, patients can be encouraged to use techniques involving positive reframing and humor coping styles.

Help-Seeking as a Maladaptive Coping Style in the Pandemic Scenario: What Worked and What Did Not for Facing This New Stressor.

The spread of COVID-19 and its related confinement measures were important stressors for a large part of the global population, with massive effects on both physical and mental health. Assessing how individuals coped with such a stressor and which strategies were effective is one of the main challenges for psychological research. In this study, we aimed to investigate the coping strategies implied during the COVID-19 lockdown and their effectiveness. We recruited 374 Italian participants through convenience sampling during the first pandemic wave (April 2020). We administered to our participants an online battery of questionnaires including the Brief COPE, the use of alternative coping strategies proposed by the WHO to help people facing lockdown stress, and a range of psychological symptoms. An exploratory factor analysis conducted on the subscales of the Brief COPE revealed a three-factor structure. Following the previous literature, we named these factors engagement, disengagement, and help-seeking coping styles. In the pandemic scenario, the engagement and disengagement styles revealed the typical correlation patterns with psychological symptoms (i.e., the engagement was adaptive while the disengagement was maladaptive). Instead, contrary to previous literature, help-seeking was positively related to psychological symptoms, suggesting a mismatch between searching for help and finding it during the lockdown. This result supports the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of coping strategies in the pandemic scenario, to give more compelling and precise advice to the population.

Coping strategies in an euthymic phase for major depressed patients

Background and objectivesThe present study aimed to explore for a better understanding of the dysfunctional coping styles in patients with major depression, making a comparison between an acute and an euthymic phase. MethodsA longitudinal study included 65 patients diagnosed with recurrent major depressive disorder who were twice evaluated, clinically and for coping mechanisms, for the first time during an acute depressive episode and for the second time after 6 months of euthymia. Coping mechanisms were assessed with the Brief COPE scale and the severity of depression was evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale — 17 items. For both phases of the illness, depression and euthymia, the results were compared with 35 healthy controls. ResultsEuthymic patients, in comparison with healthy individuals, displayed significant statistical differences (p < 0.05) showing greater use of self-distraction, disengagement, and substance use coping styles. For most of the dysfunctional coping tests applied the scores were found similar for depressed patients and euthymic ones. Also, no significant statistical associations were found between the use of dysfunctional coping mechanisms for the two phases of the examination. ConclusionsEuthymic patients, when compared with healthy controls, showed significant statistical differences in the use of dysfunctional coping strategies. No statistically significant differences were found between the two phases of depression, the use of dysfunctional coping mechanisms being the same.

When and how do hospital nurses cope with daily stressors? A multilevel study.

BackgroundDuring their workday, nurses face a variety of stressors that are dealt with using different coping strategies. One criticism of the contextual models of work stress is that they fail to focus on individual responses like coping with stress. Neverthless, little is know about the momentary determinants of coping in nurses.ObjectivesTo identify the momentary predictors of problem-focused approaching coping and emotion-focused approaching coping, as well as those for seeking social support and refusal coping strategies, during the working day in nurses.DesignThis study uses descriptive, correlational, two-level design with repeated measures.SettingsWards of two University hospitals.ParticipantsA random cohort of 113 nurses was studied.MethodsAn ecological momentary assessment was made of demand, control, effort, reward, nursing task, coping, mood and fatigue, and of coping style by questionnaire. Multilevel two-level statistical analyses were performed in order to identify both within person and between person relationships.ResultsDifferent momentary types of coping were associated with different tasks. The problem-focused coping could be explained by the direct care and medication tasks, demand, planning coping style, mood, and negatively by acceptation coping style. Emotion-focused coping could be explained by documentation and medication tasks (negatively), mood, demand, distraction, and disengagement coping styles. Seeking social support coping could be explained by the task of communication, mood, fatigue (negatively), and seeking emotional support as a coping style. Refusal coping could be explained by mood, and the coping style of focusing and venting emotions. Refusal coping is not specific to any task.ConclusionsThe choice of the coping strategy depends on the task, of their appraisal and on the different styles of coping.

Perceived ethnic discrimination, race-related stress, and coping styles

Racism is an international phenomenon that has been constructed by years of historical, social, political and economic factors. This study examined 250 college students’ experiences of race-related stress and perceived general stress, their perceived ethnic discrimination, and coping styles. While many of these variables have been studied separately, this study examined them simultaneously to determine if coping styles provides additional variance to perceived ethnic discrimination after accounting for race-related stress. Results of the study indicated that seeking social support was significantly correlated with perceived stress and race-related stress. In addition, denial and disengagement coping styles were significantly correlated with race-related stress and perceived ethnic discrimination. Race-related stress and behavioral disengagement coping style contributed significantly to the variance in perceived ethnic discrimination. Male students were found to experience higher levels of perceived discrimination, as is in line with previous research. The finding in relation to gender in this study calls for different intervention strategies to help men to deal with ethnic discrimination they perceive. By examining which coping styles may be effective or ineffective in dealing with racial and ethnic stressors, prevention and educational strategies can be developed and put in place to prevent further mental and/or physical harm from coming to minority populations.

Avoiding the issue: Disengagement coping style and the personality–CWB link

ABSTRACTThe current study positions coping as a motivational framework to understand why Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, and Agreeableness are related to the performance of organization- and person-directed counterproductive work behavior (CWB) when employees experience constraints at work. In particular, we hypothesized a moderated meditational model wherein individuals low in Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Emotional Stability engage in CWB because these traits contribute to a preferred style of coping with stressors (disengagement coping style) that is particularly likely to be triggered when one’s coping preferences are consistent with the coping demands of the situation. Our hypotheses were supported and point to the joint importance of personality-based coping predispositions and situational demands in determining the use of CWB as a coping strategy.

Intolerance of Uncertainty and Coping Mechanisms in Nonclinical Young Subjects.

We aimed to explore the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and coping mechanisms in a nonclinical sample with the same age and educational level. The Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE) scale was used to evaluate the coping mechanisms. The IU scale was used to evaluate IU situations. We found that the negative impact of uncertainty on the action in female students was greater than males. While female students used more planning, instrumental support, reinterpretation, religion, emotional support, venting, and mental disengagement coping styles, male students used more humor, denial, and alcohol/drug abuse coping styles. Subjects with psychological problems had higher IU scores and used some more coping mechanisms (restraint, acceptance, behavioral disengagement, and alcohol/drug abuse) than the others. Our results suggest that healthy subjects use different coping styles and respond differently to uncertainty in both genders.

Changes in disengagement coping mediate changes in affect following mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in a non-clinical sample.

Past research has shown that mindfulness-based interventions increase positive affect in non-clinical populations. However, the mechanisms underlying this increase are poorly understood. On the basis of previous empirical and theoretical accounts, we hypothesized that a decreased use of disengagement coping strategies in daily life would explain the benefits of a mindfulness-based intervention in terms of increased positive affect. We analysed the data of 75 healthy adult participants (58 women; 17 men) of different ages (M=49years old; SD=13; age range 19-81) who had been randomly allocated to 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) or to a waitlist control group. The results confirmed our hypothesis: Participants in the MBCT group showed significant improvements in positive affect compared to the control group, with decreased use of disengagement coping styles mediating these improvements. The implications of this study are discussed.

Resilience and coping in trauma spectrum symptoms prediction: A structural equation modeling approach

Resilience is increasingly recognized as a relevant factor in shaping psychological response to natural disasters. Aim of the study is to examine in the context of a natural disaster the potential effects of resilience on the relation between coping and trauma spectrum symptoms, using structural equation modeling.A sample of 371 students who survived the earthquake in L’Aquila (Italy) were cross-sectionally evaluated using Resilience Scale for Adolescents, Brief Cope and Trauma and Loss Spectrum scale.The model shows a direct path of positive and emotional coping styles on resilience. Emotional coping shows also a direct impact on the outcome; positive and emotional coping results to be positively correlated as well as emotional and disengagement coping styles. Resilience directly affects the PTSD symptoms, partially mediating the impact of the coping styles. The model explains 30% of the variance in the outcome, i.e. the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, with very good fit indexes.Resilience operates as a protective factor from stress symptom development. It is likely that emotional and disengagement coping skills are rapidly involved after a traumatic exposure but when problem focused coping intervenes, resilience allows it to buffer the stressors or even guides toward a more successful outcome.

Cross-sectional psychosocial evaluation of heart transplantation candidates

Introduction and objectivesHeart transplantation (HT) is a potentially life-saving procedure for people with terminal cardiac disease. In the last decades researchers of HT programs have attempted to identify the existence of psychosocial factors that might influence the clinical outcome before and after the transplantation. The main objective of this study was to describe epidemiological, psychiatric and psychological features of a large sample of HT candidates. MethodsCross-sectional, observational and descriptive study. A psychiatric and psychological assessment of 125 adult patients was performed at the moment of being included in the HT waiting list, between 2006 and 2012. The assessment consisted in: Clinical, epidemiological and psychosocial form; Spanish version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV axis I disorders; Coping questionnaire (COPE); Five Factors Inventory Revised (NEO-FFI-R); Apgar-Family questionnaire and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale. ResultsAxis I diagnoses were present in a 30.4% of patients. COPE showed that this group of patients used most frequently engagement strategies. Personality factors profile of NEO-FFI-R were similar to general population and locus of control scale also presented similar scores compared with other chronic diagnostic groups. Statistically significant associations were found between personality factors and COPE scales/dimensions and psychopathology, mainly neuroticism and disengagement. ConclusionsThis is the first study to assess systematically psychosocial factors in a large sample of HT candidates. We have found that around one third of these patients have a psychiatric disorder. Neuroticism and disengagement coping styles can serve as markers of emotional distress.

Coping, Daily Hassles and Behavior and Emotional Problems in Adolescents with High-Functioning Autism/Asperger’s Disorder

Although daily hassles and coping are associated with behavior and emotional problems in non-clinical populations, few studies have investigated these relationships in individuals with high-functioning autism/Asperger's Disorder (HFASD). This study examined the relationships between daily hassles, coping and behavior and emotional problems in adolescents with HFASD. Thirty-one adolescents with HFASD completed questionnaires assessing their coping and behavior and emotional problems, and completed an Ecological Momentary Assessment run via a mobile phone application on their coping and daily hassles. Parents completed questionnaires of the adolescents' daily hassles, coping, and behavior and emotional problems. The disengagement coping style was associated with significantly higher levels of behavior and emotional problems regardless of respondent or methodology, suggesting it may be a valuable target for intervention.

Fatigue in adolescents with cancer compared to healthy adolescents

Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most pervasive and debilitating side-effects of cancer treatment and adolescents consistently rate cancer-related fatigue as one of the most distressing aspects of treatment. Because fatigue is also high in adolescents without cancer, the current study aims to describe fatigue in adolescents with cancer relative to a control group and to identify associates of such fatigue. Knowing this is important for understanding the extent of the problem in adolescents with cancer relative to healthy adolescents and for understanding who is most at risk for fatigue and related distress. Adolescents with cancer and their caregivers (n = 102) and adolescents without a history of chronic health conditions and their caregivers (n = 97) completed the Multidimensional Fatigue Scale and measures of depression, quality of life (QoL), affect, coping, and family functioning. Adolescents with cancer and their caregivers reported significantly more adolescent fatigue across all domains (with the exception of adolescent reports of cognitive fatigue) relative to adolescents without chronic health conditions. Higher fatigue was significantly related to adolescent report of more symptoms of depression, poorer QoL, higher negative affect, less positive affect, and behavioral disengagement coping style. Fatigue was not related to active coping or family functioning. Adolescents with cancer experience significantly more fatigue than peers without chronic health conditions. Reports of fatigue are closely related to multiple indicators of psychosocial well-being, suggesting that fatigue may be an important cancer-related symptom to assess and manage to improve adolescent QoL.

Impact of coping styles on post-traumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms among pregnant women exposed to Hurricane Katrina

Experiencing natural disasters such as hurricanes is associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. We examined the role played by perceived stress and coping styles in explaining and modifying this association among pregnant women exposed to Hurricane Katrina. The study comprised 192 women (133 from New Orleans and 59 from Baton Rouge) who were pregnant during Hurricane Katrina or became pregnant immediately after the hurricane. Women were interviewed regarding their hurricane experience, perceived stress, and mental health outcomes. Coping styles was assessed using the Brief COPE, PTSD symptoms using the Post-Traumatic Checklist, and depressive symptoms using the Edinburgh Depression Scale. Multivariable regression models were run to determine the effects of coping styles on mental health and the interactions among coping styles, hurricane experience, and perceived stress on mental health. Apart from the positive reframing and humor coping styles, all coping styles correlated positively with PTSD or depression (p < 0.05). The instrumental support, denial, venting, and behavioral disengagement coping styles were significantly associated with worsened PTSD symptoms among those who reported higher perceived stress (p < 0.05). Use of a humor coping style seemed to reduce the effect of perceived stress on depressive symptoms (p = 0.02 for interaction) while use of instrumental support (p = 0.04) and behavioral disengagement (p < 0.01) were both associated with more symptoms of depression among those who perceived more stress. There were no strong interactions between coping style and hurricane experience. Coping styles are potential moderators of the effects of stress on mental health of pregnant women.

Stress, coping styles, and optimism: are they related to meaning of education in students’ lives?

We explored the meanings that undergraduate students make of their education and how these meanings relate to students’ perceived stress, styles of coping with stress, and optimism. Participants completed a meaning of education questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale, the COPE (a measure of coping styles), and the Life Orientation Test-Revised. As expected, optimists were less likely, and students who used disengagement coping styles were more likely, to see education as a source of stress or as an escape. Emotion-focused coping positively predicted several meanings of education, including seeing the university experience as providing opportunities for social connections, for learning and for self-development. These and other findings are discussed in terms of student success in college.