Escape-avoidance Coping Strategies Research Articles

ОЦЕНКА КОПИНГ-СТРАТЕГИЙ У СТУДЕНТОВ С ТИПОМ ЛИЧНОСТИ Д

Introduction. Personality type D in cardiac patients is associated with poor quality of life and poor prognosis. Since these personal characteristics are stable under dynamic observation, the question arises - are there other points of application for behavioral influences? Therefore, the aim of this study was to study the choice of coping strategies and coping intensity in young healthy individuals with personality type D. Material and methods. The study included 98 students of the medical faculty of KemGMU, 68 girls and 30 boys aged 18 to 23 years (19.1 ± 2.0 years). All surveyed people filled out psychological questionnaires to identify personality type D (DS-14) and the choice of coping strategies (“Ways of Coping Questionnaire” and “Coping Strategy Indication”). Results. Two groups were distinguished: with the presence of personality type D (n=44) and without it (n=54). In students with type D, the mean scores on the NA and SI scales were higher than in students without type D (p<0.001 in both cases). Individuals with personality type D had higher scores on the scales "Escape-avoidance" (p<0.001), "Take responsibility" (p=0.009), "Distancing" (p=0.05) of the WSQ questionnaire and "Avoidance strategy" ( p=0.007) of the CSI questionnaire. Students with type D are characterized by a pronounced preference for the "Escape-Avoidance" strategy (p<0.001). According to univariate logistic regression analysis, a 1-point increase in values on the Escape-Avoidance scale increased the chance of identifying personality type D by 1.15 times (95% CI 1.07–1.23; p<0.001). On the contrary, an increase in scores on the “Positive reassessment” scale reduced the likelihood of identifying personality type D (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.86-0.98; p=0.005). The ROC-analysis showed that the identified association of the Escape-Avoidance coping strategy with personality type D has rather high values (AUC=0.779; 95% CI 0.688-0.870). Conclusion. Healthy medical students with personality type D have a preponderance of inadequate coping strategies. In logistic regression analysis, the independent strategies associated with personality type D are the "Escape-avoidance" strategy, and with the type of non-D - the "Positive reappraisal" strategy. These studies can serve as a basis for the development of behavioral influences in individuals with personality type D.

Coping Strategies In Young Healthy Individuals With Type D Personality

Objective — To study the choice of coping strategies and coping intensity in healthy individuals with type D personality. Material and methods — The study included 98 students of Kemerovo State Medical University (KemSMU), 68 women and 30 men (their mean age was 19.1±2.0 years). All subjects filled out psychological questionnaires to identify type D personality (DS-14) and the choice of coping strategies (Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ) and Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI)). Results — The participants were divided into a group with type D personality (n=44) and without it (n=54). Individuals with type D personality had higher scores on the Escape-Avoidance (p<0.001), Accepting Responsibility (p=0.009) and Distancing (p=0.05) scales of the WSQ questionnaire, and Avoidance strategy scale of the CSI questionnaire (p=0.007). Students with type D personality were characterized by a pronounced preference for the Escape-Avoidance strategy (p=0.000018). An increase of 1 point in the values on the Escape-Avoidance scale improved the chance of identifying type D personality by 1.15 times (p<0.001). An increase in scores on the Positive Reappraisal scale reduced the likelihood of identifying type D personality (OR 0.98; p=0.005). The Escape-Avoidance coping strategy was rather strongly associated with type D personality (AUC=0.779). Conclusion — In healthy young people with type D personality, inadequate coping strategies were notably prevalent: the Escape-Avoidance strategy identified by WCQ, and the Avoidance strategy marked by the CSI. The Escape-Avoidance strategy was independently associated with type D personality, and the Positive Reappraisal strategy was associated with the non-D type.

ВЗАИМОСВЯЗЬ ЭМОЦИОНАЛЬНОГО ИНТЕЛЛЕКТА И КОПИНГ-СТРАТЕГИЙ У СТУДЕНТОВ РАЗЛИЧНЫХ ФОРМ ОБУЧЕНИЯ В ПЕРИОД ПАНДЕМИИ COVID-19

After the announcement of the global pandemic COVID-19, strict measures were taken around the world to prevent the spread of the disease in order to preserve the life and health of the population. One of the important measures was the transition of higher education institutions to learning using distance learning. The main problem that has become relevant in the changed learning environment is the negative impact of isolation on the mental health of students. In numerous studies around the world, the authors indicate a high risk of developing anxiety conditions associated with the period of distance learning, which is associated with high workload, stress and problems with adaptation. The purpose of our work was to determine the relationship between the development of emotional intelligence, prevailing coping strategies and the level of anxiety among full-time and distance learning students of a medical university during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives are to compare the severity of situational anxiety among students of various forms of education; identify their prevailing coping strategies for coping with stress; to establish the nature of the relationship between the development of emotional intelligence and the severity of anxiety in students studying in various forms of education. To conduct the study, we used psychometric, sociological and statistical methods. Based on the results of the study, we formed the following conclusions: situational anxiety was more pronounced in full-time students. Among coping strategies for coping with stress, these students are more represented: self-control, taking responsibility, planning a solution to the problem, for students using distance technologies — distancing and escape-avoidance. The integral average level of emotional intelligence is associated with the use of the escapeavoidance coping strategy, which in itself does not lead to a constructive solution to the difficulties of adaptation of the student and allows us to recommend methods for the development of emotional intelligence as prevention of anxiety in students and the development of optimal strategies for life, including number during a protracted pandemic.

Coping Mechanisms: Exploring Strategies Utilized by Japanese Healthcare Workers to Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a major problem affecting the mental health of millions of people, including healthcare workers. In this study, we analyzed risk factors and coping mechanisms that could reduce the risk of poor mental health among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted for 7 days from 30 April 2020 using a web-based questionnaire. The survey assessed various outcome measures, including the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), health status, satisfaction with daily life activities, work, leisure, and new activities, and anxiety over COVID-19. Data from 661 participants were analyzed, and 440 participants (66.6%) showed poor mental health (GHQ-12 ≥ 4). Also, our result showed that female gender, lower levels of communication with friends, and high anxiety were associated with poorer mental health. In contrast, good health status, high work satisfaction, and high satisfaction from new activities were associated with buffering mental health problem. Most participants chose an escape-avoidance coping strategy, and participants with worse mental health were more likely to adopt seeking social support as a coping strategy. These results may support healthcare workers to cope with mental health problems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

An intervention RCT-study aimed at improving mental health and increasing understanding of fertility preservation with Oncofertility! Psycho-Education And Couple Enrichment (O!PEACE) therapy.

12119 Background: Although ASCO revised Guidelines (2013) recommends referring to psychological professionals if cancer patients show concerns or anxiety about fertility, there is no evidence regarding the efficacy of psychotherapy. The aim of this study is to examine whether the Psycho-Education And Couple Enrichment (O!PEACE) therapy can reduce psychiatric symptoms and improve stress coping and marital relationship in breast cancer patients. Methods: Trial design: multicenter randomized controlled trial, pre-post design. Subjects were women aged 20–39 years with breast cancer before cancer treatment and their husbands. Couples were randomly assigned to receive O!PEACE therapy (n = 37) or not (usual care: n = 37). Assessments of PTSD symptoms, depression and anxiety were made as the primary end points at baseline and at the end of therapy before cancer treatment. Stress coping strategies, resilience, marital relationships, and marital communication were examined as secondary end points. Results: Four participants in O!PEACE therapy and one participant in the usual care withdrew from the trial. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted using analysis of covariance after multiple imputation by R and SPSS. Series of ANCOVAs were integrated according to Rubin’s rule. A significant decrease was observed in the primary outcome of PTSD symptoms, from baseline to post-intervention, in women who participated in O!PEACE therapy (p = .011, ηp2 = .089). According to post-hoc analyses, for patients with a higher baseline IES-R-J score, O!PEACE therapy resulted in a significantly higher reduction in follow-up assessment IES-R-J score when compared with usual care (U = 172.80, p = .027, r = .258): 59.3% of the women in O!PEACE therapy showed a 5-point or greater reduction, whereas in usual care, 30.0% showed a 5-point or greater reduction. For husbands, the O!PEACE therapy also showed a significant improvement of giving up and blaming others as the stress coping strategy and escape-avoidance coping strategy in their marital communication. For breast cancer patients, the O!PEACE therapy significantly improved support from husbands and the patients’ knowledge level of oncofertility compared with those receiving usual care. Conclusions: Only two counseling sessions of O!PEACE therapy can reduce patients’ distress, improve their husbands’ coping style, and may build a better cooperative relationship for couples in terms of fertility preservation and cancer treatment. Clinical trial information: UMIN000017754 .

ВЗАИМОСВЯЗЬ ПСИХОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИК ВНУТРЕННЕЙ КАРТИНЫ БОЛЕЗНИ И КОПИНГ-ПОВЕДЕНИЯ ПАЦИЕНТОВ С ИШЕМИЧЕСКОЙ БОЛЕЗНЬЮ СЕРДЦА С ПАРАМЕТРАМИ ИХ КОГНИТИВНОГО СТАТУСА

The paper presents the study of the relationship between the attitude to the disease, coping behavior of patients with coronary heart disease prior to coronary bypass grafting (CABG), and indicators of cognitive status. Bekhterev Institute Personality Questionnaire, Ways of Coping Behavior test by R. Lazarus, Mini-Mental State Examination scale, Frontal Dysfunction Battery test, and Clock- Drawing test were used in the study. The sample included 132 patients. The results of study show that in patients with coronary artery disease prior to CABG the most frequently observed type of attitude to the disease is either the harmonious type or a combination of harmonious and ergopathic types. Confrontation, Distancing, and Problem Solution Planning were identified as the preferred coping strategies. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between cognitive status and harmonious, ergopathic, and hypochondriac types of attitude to the disease, and negative associations between cognitive status and anosognostic and sensitive types of attitude to the disease. Furthermore, positive correlations between cognitive status and Confrontation, Self-control, Responsibility taking, Problem Solution Planning, Positive revaluation coping strategies and negative correlations between cognitive status and Distancing and Escape-avoidance coping strategies were found. The results of this study will help to improve the level of diagnostic and rehabilitation psychological care of patients with coronary artery disease in preparation for CABG.

Coping Strategies in War Veterans 20 Years After the Exposure to Extreme Stress

Many soldiers encounter difficulties while transitioning from military to civilian life. Such severe traumatic events may also have long-term effects. Previous studies have shown a strong relationship between coping strategies and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate how veterans who were exposed to war trauma 20 years ago now deal with everyday life stressors, and how their current coping strategies relate to the four-factor model of PTSD. A total of 220 male Croatian Homeland War Veterans between the ages of 38 and 75 participated. Questionnaires included Combat Exposure Scale, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – Military Version and Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Results showed positive association between dysphoria and escape-avoidance coping strategy and negative association between dysphoria and positive reappraisal coping strategy. Given that dysphoria symptoms are associated with the chronicity of PTSD and poorer response to PTSD therapy treatment in war veterans, our results underscore the importance of treating dysphoria symptoms and promoting engagement coping strategies for this population.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Case Study

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder marked by some gastrointestinal symptoms frequently associated with extradigestive symptoms with unknown organic causes. In this study the authors investigated whether IBS causes psychological symptoms or vice versa. Data were collected through an in-depth interview (anamnesis), a hetero-anamnesis, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). The subject was a 20-year-old student (D) diagnosed with IBS since the age of 15. Results showed that the subject had an extremely severe anxiety and stress, and moderate depression. The main obstacle faced by the subject was his escape-avoidance coping strategies which were not appropriately applied in solving problems.This situated the subject in a vicious cycle between recurrent IBS, helplessness, avoidance of responsibility, and anxious/stressful conditions. The subject’s type of personality which tended to be introverted and neurotic made him experience difficulties in overcoming psychosocial stressors, such as academic demands and lack of social relationships. The psychological factors influenced the psychological states of the subject that resulted in the recurrence of IBS.

Correlates of health-related quality of life in adults with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: A systematic review.

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) often have a debilitating effect on patients' lives. Patients, family members, and clinicians have yet to fully understand the mechanisms and treatment of this disorder. Although reviews exist about epileptic seizures, there have been no systematic reviews of studies focusing on the impact of PNES. This review considers research on factors associated with the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with PNES. Searches of Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library were conducted. Search terms identified studies that examined factors associated with HRQoL in PNES. Factors fell into three categories: (1) seizure and somatic factors, (2) psychological factors, and (3) coping strategies and family functioning. Fourteen articles were included. The majority of studies were cross-sectional and were of weak to moderate quality. Depressive symptoms were negatively associated with HRQoL. Other factors associated with poorer HRQoL included dissociation, somatic symptoms, escape-avoidance coping strategies, and family dysfunction. Variables such as seizure frequency and demographic factors were not significantly associated with HRQoL. Psychological and interpersonal factors, not seizure reduction, are important for the HRQoL of patients with PNES. The avoidance of emotions is proposed as a perpetuating factor in the difficulties associated with poorer HRQoL. Abiopsychosocial approach has relevance for both the clinical and theoretical understanding of PNES. Larger scale research on psychological and relational factors is needed to inform therapeutic approaches to enhance HRQoL in patients with PNES.

Quality of life and coping strategies in Lebanese Multiple Sclerosis patients: A pilot study

Coping strategies used by Multiple Sclerosis patients play a key role in adjusting to the disease and affect their overall quality of life. This relationship has been investigated in developed countries, but none has been studied in developing ones such as Lebanon. Factors including barriers to health care delivery, economic pressure and political instability influence which coping strategies are used and often increases the use of negative coping mechanisms. The current pilot study explored the association between different coping strategies with quality of life and depression, anxiety, fatigue and social support in 34 Lebanese Multiple Sclerosis patients. Results indicated that Multiple Sclerosis patients using positive coping strategies had significantly higher scores of quality of life (U=46, p=.038) and social support (U=33.5, p=.011), and lower depression (U=44, p=.030) and anxiety levels (U=46.5, p=.038) as compared to those using negative coping strategies. Specifically, escape avoidance coping strategy was associated with poor quality of life scores (r=−.609, p<.0001) and high levels of depression (r=.534, p=.001), anxiety (r=.530, p=.001), and fatigue (r=.401, p=.019). Comprehensive assessment of Multiple Sclerosis taking into account coping strategies is needed to develop proper therapeutic interventions which increase quality of life. Future studies are required to confirm these results.

Preditores do estresse e estratégias de coping utilizadas por estudantes de Enfermagem

Resumo Objetivo: Identificar os preditores do estresse e as estratégias de coping utilizadas por estudantes de Enfermagem. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com 146 estudantes de Enfermagem. Os instrumentos de pesquisa foram: o inventário de estratégias de coping e a escala de avaliação de estresse. Para análise dos dados utilizaram-se correlação de Pearson e análise de regressão. Resultados: Identificaram-se como preditores do estresse a formação acadêmica, conhecimento prático adquirido, e tempo e lazer. Os preditores do estresse apresentaram associação com as estratégias de coping negação do problema e fuga da realidade. Conclusão: As estratégias mais utilizadas frente a eventos estressores foram consideras negativas e de baixa eficácia por centrarem seus esforços na emoção, e não no problema, comprometendo o processo de formação profissional.

Personality Affects Aspects of Health-Related Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease via Psychological Coping Strategies

Personality traits influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Parkinson's disease (PD). Further, an individual's personality traits can influence the strategies they use to cope with a particular stressful situation. However, in PD, the interplay between personality traits, choice of coping strategy, and their subsequent effect on HRQoL remains unclear. The objective of this study was to examine whether personality (neuroticism and extraversion) indirectly affects HRQoL through the use of specific psychological coping strategies. One hundred and forty-six patients with PD completed questionnaires on personality (Big Five Aspects Scale; BFAS), coping (Ways of Coping Questionnaire; WCQ), and mood-specific (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale; DASS-21) and disease-specific HRQoL (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire; PDQ-39). After controlling for gender, age at diagnosis, and age at testing, the emotion-focused coping strategy of escape-avoidance was significantly correlated with neuroticism and certain aspects of HRQoL (cognitive impairment and social support). This suggests that neurotic personality traits may negatively impact on some aspects of HRQoL due to an increased use of escape-avoidance coping strategies. By contrast, planned problem-solving and escape-avoidance coping strategies were both significantly linked to extraversion and interpersonal and mood-related domains of HRQoL. This suggests that extraversion may positively impact on some aspects of HRQoL due to patients adopting greater planned, problem-solving coping strategies, and using fewer escape-avoidance coping mechanisms. Psychological interventions aimed at targeting maladaptive coping strategies, such as the use of escape-avoidance coping, may be effective in minimising the negative impact of neuroticism on HRQoL in PD.

Predictors of depressive symptoms in primary caregivers of young children with or at risk for developmental delay

Despite extensive research with families raising children with or at risk for developmental delay (DD), it is not clear whether primary caregivers of these children are at increased risk for depressive symptoms. Discrepant findings in the literature may be owing to heterogeneity of child problems. More research is needed on child, parent and family variables that may increase risk for, or resilience to, caregiver depressive symptoms. Some studies have found that parental resources (e.g. social support and coping strategies) may buffer the effects of parental distress, while other studies have highlighted the role of parental self-efficacy. We examined Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores in 178 primary caregivers (mainly biological mothers) who had 2-year-old children with or at risk for DD owing to: (a) low birthweight, prematurity or multiple birth (n = 58), (b) other known reasons (e.g. Down syndrome, spina bifida) (n = 67), or (c) unknown reasons (n = 69). We found that 20% (n = 35) of the caregivers scored above the BDI clinical cut-off for depression. Analysis of variance revealed that caregivers with elevated BDI scores had higher child behaviour problem and escape-avoidance coping scores, and lower social support and parent self-efficacy, compared with caregivers without depressive symptoms. Caregivers with children who had DD for unknown reasons had higher BDI scores than caregivers of the other two groups of children. Regression analyses showed that child behaviour problems, escape-avoidance coping strategies and social support predicted caregiver BDI scores, but caregiver self-efficacy only did so when entered independently of social support. Only social support mediated and (marginally) moderated the relationship between child behaviour problems and caregiver depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that early intervention programmes should carefully consider the interaction of child characteristics (e.g. Diagnosis and behaviour problems), caregiver resources (e.g. coping strategies and social support), and parental mental health and mood when planning and tailoring services for families of children with or at risk for DD.

Cognitive behaviour therapy with adults with intractable epilepsy and psychiatric co-morbidity: preliminary observations on changes in psychological state and seizure frequency

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) was undertaken with six adults with chronic, poorly controlled seizures and co-existing psychiatric and/or psychosocial difficulties. During 12 sessions of CBT from an experienced CBT Nurse Specialist, treatment focused concurrently on epilepsy-related problems, associated psychopathology and on the development of psychological strategies to reduce seizure occurrence. At the end of treatment participants rated their initial epilepsy-related problem as having less impact on their daily lives and at one-month follow-up reported less deleterious impact on everyday life in terms of their psychological difficulties. In addition participants demonstrated significant improvements in terms of their self-rated work and social adjustment, and in their decreased use of escape-avoidance coping strategies. These positive findings occurred despite the absence of a significant decrease in seizure frequency. Issues raised by the complexity and severity, both of these patients’ psychological/psychosocial difficulties and their epilepsy, are discussed in relation to the optimal length of treatment that may be required when adopting a CBT model in this patient group.

Traumatic stress and coping strategies of sesternary victims following an aircraft disaster in Coventry

AbstractIn December 1994, an aircraft was returning to Coventry, UK after unloading a cargo of live animals in Amsterdam. The aircraft struck a pylon, subsequently lost control, and started to descend on a large complex of housing estates. It clipped the roofs of two houses and finally crashed into a woodland area close to the edge of a large housing estate. Hundreds of residents on the housing estate had escaped death and were classified as sesternary victims, in that, but by chance, they would have been primary victims. The aims of the study were to examine the traumatic stress of the sesternary victims and the coping strategies that they employed in order to cope with the effects of the trauma. The hypothesis was that the victims would exhibit traumatic distress associated with a specific model of coping characterized by distancing, escape–avoidance, and seeking social support. Eighty‐two victims participated in the study and were interviewed using the Impact of Event Scale (IES), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Ways of Coping Checklist (WOC). The results showed that the victims experienced more intrusion than avoidance, and that there were no significant differences between the present samples and standardized samples. Fifty‐six per cent scored above the cutoff point of 4 in the GHQ. Confrontive coping, distancing, self‐controlling, accepting responsibility, escape–avoidance, and positive reappraisal were used by the victims significantly more than the standardized samples. Path analyses showed that avoidance was predicted by the escape–avoidance coping strategy, that intrusion was predicted by distancing and escape–avoidance strategies and that the GHQ total was predicted by distancing and escape–avoidance coping strategies. The conclusion was that the victims exhibited significant traumatic distress which was partially associated with the specific model of coping that we hypothesized. Seeking social support did not seem to account for distress. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Dissociation, hypnotizability, coping styles and health locus of control: characteristics of pseudoseizure patients

Although literature in this area is relatively sparse, the occurrence of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (pseudoseizures) has been linked to stress, anxiety and possible dissociative tendencies. An association between dissociation and hypnotic susceptibility has also been proposed and dissociative tendencies have themselves been found to relate to the use of emotion-focused coping strategies. In order to investigate the hypothesis that pseudoseizure patients may exhibit higher levels of dissociation, a more emotion-focused coping style, and greater hypnotic susceptibility than the general population, the questionnaire responses of 20 patients with pseudoseizures were compared with those obtained from a non-clinical control group. As predicted, pseudoseizure patients demonstrated some evidence of higher levels of dissociation and escape-avoidance coping strategies. They also expressed a greater belief in external control over health and higher depression scores, compared to the control group, but the previously reported elevation in hypnotizability scores in the pseudoseizure patients was not found. Possible explanations for this pattern of results are discussed.

Behavior Problems in Young Children With or At Risk for Developmental Delay

We examined the prevalence of behavior problems and their relationship to child, parent, and family factors in 76 children with or at risk for developmental delay. Parents reported that 42% of the children had behavior problems. Child Behavior Checklist (CBC) scores revealed that 25% of the sample scored above the borderline cutoff. Although the total, externalizing, and internalizing mean CBC scores did not differ from the normative group (same-aged peers without developmental delay), each of the syndrome subscales was significantly higher in the study group. The Reiss Scales for Children's Dual Diagnosis revealed that, as compared to older children (≥4 years) with developmental delay, the study sample scored significantly lower on the total score and 8 of the 10 subscales. Increased CBC total scores were significantly related to dependency and management of the child, birth weight, gestational length, paternal illness, maternal depression, perceived personal burden of care, maternal escape-avoidance coping strategy, family disharmony, and financial stress. CBC total scores were significantly negatively correlated with being of a multiple birth, paternal education, maternal employment, two-parent family, family social support, and family income. Multiple regression analyses revealed that an empirically-derived combination of child, parent, and family variables accounted for 31% of the variance in CBC total scores. Our findings suggest that 2-year old children with or at-risk for developmental delay may already be showing signs of increased risk of behavior problems relative to peers without developmental delay. We identified several child, parent, and family variables that may help to pinpoint children at increased riskxs for psychopathology.

Coping: Stressors and depression among middle class african American men

The present study of stress, depression and coping among a sample of 108 middle-class African American men sought ot understand if stress between a man and his partner is associated with depression, if escape-avoidance coping is more likely to be used by men who experience relational stress, and if escape-avoidance coping is associated with depression. The study did not confirm an association between relational conflict and depression. Relational stressors were more associated with an escape-avoidance coping strategy.

Coping and life satisfaction after stroke

This study examined the coping strategies and life satisfaction of 73 elderly couples at 6-12 months after a cerebrovascular accident. Instruments included the Life Satisfaction Index A, the Ways of Coping Scale, and the Gulick Activity of Daily Living Scale. A series of mixed model analyses of variance were performed. A single significant main effect was obtained for the variable, Seeking Social Support. Stroke survivors were less likely to use Seeking Social Support coping strategies than were their spouses. Correlations indicated that survivors manifested more positive affect when (a) they did not use Accepting Responsibility coping strategies; (b) they did not use Escape-Avoidance coping strategies; (c) their spouse did not use Escape-Avoidance; and (d) their spouses used fewer Planful Problem Solving coping strategies. Survivors were more likely to express satisfaction with past actions to the extent that (a) the survivor's spouse did not use Confrontive Coping strategies and (b) the survivor's spouse did not indicate using Planful Problem Solving coping strategies. The spouse's affect was positive to the extent that he or she did not use Escape-Avoidance coping strategies. More positive affect in stroke survivors was noted when their functional skills allowed them to do more independent activities of daily living. These relationships remained constant regardless of the functional skill of the survivor. The study supports the idea that groups with a psychoeducational component would provide useful social support and coping alternatives. Continued rehabilitation efforts to improve daily living skills are recommended.