Escape-avoidance Coping Research Articles

The role of psychological characteristics of the personality of patients with colorectal cancer in the timeliness of diagnosis verification and prognosis of disease outcome.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has become the third most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in the world. Based on the risk factors for colorectal cancer (behavior, lifestyle), it is important to better understand the behavioral and psychological characteristics of the individual associated with timely seeking medical help, coping with the extreme situation of diagnosis, and the course of the disease. This determined the purpose of the study: identify the psychological characteristics of patients with colorectal cancer associated with the stage of diagnosis verification and the prognosis of disease outcome. Coping, quality of life, and resilience, as well as clinical and sociodemographic variables were studied in 72 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The design of the study involved studying the relationship between the stage of cancer and the prognosis of the outcome of the disease, as well as the role of psychological variables in the timeliness of diagnosis and predicting the outcome of cancer. The stage of verification of colorectal cancer is associated with the prognosis of the outcome of the cancer; the later colorectal cancer is verified, the more unfavorable the prognosis of the outcome of the oncological disease. Escape-avoidance coping is associated with the verification stage of colorectal cancer; pronounced avoidance is associated with the late verification stage. Coping strategies such as seeking social support, positive reappraisal, risk-taking, pain intensity, and role functioning significantly influence the prognosis of colorectal cancer outcomes. The psychological characteristics of the personality of patients with colorectal cancer have been identified, which, by determining the behavior of patients, affect the timeliness of diagnosis verification and the prognosis of the outcome of the disease.

Psychological, socioeconomic burdens and coping mechanisms of caregivers of children with bronchoasthma in Kakamega County, Kenya

Background: Childhood bronchoasthma consistently pose diverse caregiving burdens yet, magnitude of these and coping mechanisms adopted by caregivers are infrequently assessed during routine care only focused on index patients. Methods: A partially mixed descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted for a minimum of 408 respondents. The results were presented in form of tables and text. Results: A total of 408 caregivers were surveyed, with a mean age of 33 years (SD=9.86). Majority (78.7%) were actual parents of whom 73.5% were married. Primary-level education was the highest attained by 64% of caregivers while those earning <10,000 KES per month were 76% with about 3 out 4 being self-employed. Significant psychological concerns include sleep disturbance on the night previous to the interview, caregivers’ concern about the child's asthma medication and side effects. Work absenteeism; reduced total annual income; lost job; discontinued child schooling and delayed family investment/cut budgets were significant social/economic burdens. Most caregivers used escape-avoidance coping mechanisms with a significant majority being involved in substance abuse (72.3%); feeling helpless or downplayed the severity of symptoms because of myths and stigma. Young age (p=0.002); being widowed (p=0.040), and being of low level of education (p<0.001) were associated with poor coping mechanisms. Conclusions: There was considerable prevalence of psychological burden and socio-economic status among caregivers with significant majority using adversarial coping mechanisms, particularly among socio-economically disadvantaged.

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.

Interpersonal differences in stress, coping, and satisfaction with life in the context of individual profiles of satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs.

Basic psychological need theory has identified three basic needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Need satisfaction is necessary for development and well-being, while need frustration can lead to maladaptive functioning. The study investigated the significance of individual profiles of basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration in experiencing stress, coping, and satisfaction with life. Participants (N = 622, Mage = 22.22 ± 4.30) completed the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Stress Appraisal Questionnaire, COPE Inventory, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. We performed exploratory factor analysis to identify coping styles, latent profile analysis to distinguish groups with specific need profiles, and MANOVA to demonstrate differences between these groups. Five coping styles were identified: (1) problem-focused, (2) emotion-focused, (3) meaning-focused, (4) escape-avoidance, and (5) religious. The following groups of individuals characterized by specific profiles of basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration were distinguished: (1) mainly low satisfaction and high frustration of relatedness; (2) high satisfaction and low frustration of all basic needs; (3) low satisfaction and high frustration of all basic needs; (4) average satisfaction and frustration of all basic needs; (5) mainly low satisfaction and high frustration of competence. These groups significantly differ in perceived stress, coping styles, and life satisfaction. Individuals with profile 3 were the most stressed and tend to use escape-avoidance coping style. Participants with profile 2 coped using a problem-focused style and had higher life satisfaction. These findings indicate that a person-centered approach leads to a better understanding of experiencing stress and coping.

Daily uplifts, daily hassles, and coping in military veterans' post-deployment reintegration.

Our first aim was to explore the relationship between daily uplifts, daily hassles, and coping styles the first year after returning from international military missions and post-deployment work, family, and private reintegration in military veterans. Our second aim was to identify individual patterns regarding daily uplifts, daily hassles, and coping styles and to explore how they relate to the above-mentioned aspects of post-deployment reintegration. Questionnaire responses were received from 446 Swedish military veterans. Regression analyses showed that daily hassles and an escape-avoidance coping style made significant contributions in the predicted, negative direction to the amount of explained variance on reintegration indicator scales. A high level of perceived threat during the last mission also contributed to more negative integration. Using a person-centered approach, three unique profiles of response patterns were identified using a cluster analysis based on the uplift, hassles, and coping style scores. One profile was labeled "resilient and well-functioning"; its members showed favorable reintegration scores. A second profile was called "ambitious and struggling." These individuals scored medium-high on the reintegration scales. The third profile consistently indicated the least favorable reintegration scores and was labeled "worried and avoidant." The results confirm and deepen our existing knowledge.

Support- and meaning-focused coping as key factors for maintaining adult quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, questions about both consequences and helpful strategies to maintain quality of life (QoL) have become increasingly important. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of coping factors during the COVID-19 pandemic, their associations with QoL and the moderating role of certain sociodemographic characteristics. Analyses were based on cross-sectional self-reports from German adult participants (N = 2,137, 18-84 years, 52.1% female) of the CORONA HEALTH APP Study from July 2020 to July 2021. Multivariate regression analyses were used to predict (a) coping factors assessed with the Brief COPE and (b) QoL assessed with the WHOQOL-BREF while taking measurement time, central sociodemographic, and health characteristics into account. During the COVID-19 pandemic, German adults mostly pursued problem- and meaning-focused coping factors and showed a relatively good QoL [Mean values (M) from 57.2 to 73.6, standard deviations (SD) = 16.3-22.6], except for the social domain (M = 57.2, SD = 22.6), and with a decreasing trend over time (β from -0.06 to -0.11, ps < 0.01). Whereas, escape-avoidance coping was negatively related to all QoL domains (β = -0.35, p < 0.001 for psychological, β = -0.22, p < 0.001 for physical, β = -0.13, p = 0.045 for social, β = -0.49, p < 0.001 for environmental QoL), support- and meaning-focused coping showed positive associations with various QoL domains (β from 0.19 to 0.45, ps < 0.01). The results also suggested differences in the pursuit of coping factors as well as in the strength of associations with QoL by sociodemographic characteristics. Escape-avoidance-focused coping was negatively associated with QoL levels in older and less educated adults (simple slopes differed at ps < 0.001), in particular. The results demonstrated what types of coping may be helpful to avoid QoL deterioration (i.e., support- and meaning-focused coping) and provide implications for future universal or targeted health promotion (i.e., older or less educated adults who lack social or instrumental support) and preparedness in the face of unknown challenging societal situations similar to that of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional trends of enhanced use of escape-avoidance-focused coping and QoL deterioration point toward a need for increased attention from public health and policy.

Coping styles of Guyanese nurses in the face of patients’ deaths: A cross-sectional study

Objective: to investigate nurses’ strategies to cope with patients’ deaths and to explore potentialinfluences of cultural aspects on this phenomenon. Methodology: this is a cross-sectional study.The participants were 85 Registered Nurses from a Guyanese regional hospital. Data collectionwas carried out using a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Coping Strategies Inventoryby Lazarus and Folkman. Descriptive statistics and the Spearman’s correlation test, Student’st-test and Kruskal-Wallis test were performed to explore the data obtained. Results: most of theparticipants were women (85.9%) of African descent (56.5%). The mean age was 29.63 years old(SD=8.98), varying from 20 to 55 years old. Nurses have adopted the Planful problem-solving,Self-controlling and Positive reappraisal coping strategies to deal with patients’ deaths, and religionexerted an influence on the coping style they mentioned. Years as a Registered Nurse had positivecorrelations between the Planned problem-solving, Positive reappraisal, Seeking social support andDistancing coping styles related to patients’ deaths. Nurses professing the Hindu religion presentedhigher scores related to the Escape-avoidance coping style. Conclusion: even without specifictraining in coping with death, Guyanese nurses have adopted adequate coping strategies to dealwith this phenomenon. Cultural beliefs, such as religions of different philosophical and spiritualframeworks, may influence nurses’ coping strategies in the face of patients’ deaths.

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&lt;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&lt;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.

Interconnections Between Coping Strategies, Style of Self-Regulation and Personal Maturity in Boys and Girls of Student Age

The article contains the research of connections between measure of coping strategies use, self-regulation system components formation and personal maturity in boys and girls, students of Humanities specialties of junior courses of higher education institutions. There was revealed that the boys and girls prefer different strategies for coping with stress. Girls first of all use escape-avoidance coping, and lastly use planning a solution to the problem. Boys are most often going to use self-control and do it significantly more often than girls, boys are most rarely prone to the search for social support. In general, the use of various coping mechanisms is moderate. The process of evaluating results dominates in girls’ style of self-regulation, the processes of planning and modeling dominates among boys. These processes are developed on the border with a high level. The processes of programming, evaluating results in boys, planning and modeling in girls, and regulatory personality’s qualities are formed at the average level. Young people generally have achieved a satisfactory general level of personal maturity. Of the components of personal maturity, both girls and boys have satisfactory level of achievement motivation and unsatisfactory level of attitude to self. In girls life attitude is formed satisfactorily, in boys it is unsatisfactory. Vice versa ability to psychological closeness and sense of civic duty are developed at a satisfactory level in boys, but unsatisfactory in girls. Differences in the sense of civic duty are statistically significant. Obtained correlations between coping strategies and self-regulation system components were mostly negative: all of them in boys, and more than half of them in girls. That is, the use of certain coping mechanisms occurs without involving the system of activity self-regulation. So in boys different coping strategies are inversely connected with such components of self-regulation system as modeling, results estimation, planning and total level of self-regulation. In girls there are inverse connections between strategies of distancing and planning, programming and general level of self-regulation, between search for social support and modeling. At the same time in girls there are positive connections between planning a solution to the problem strategy and general development of self-regulation and the process of evaluating results in particular. In girls self-control coping is positively connected with the process of evaluating results, while in boys this connection is inverse, and this indicates the presence of gender-specific self-regulation style. In girls positive reappraisal strategy is positively connected with general level of personal maturity and with ability to psychological closeness, whereas escape-avoidance strategy is inversely connected with general level of personal maturity and attitude to own «I». Boys gravitate more towards to planning a solution to the problem strategy in terms of self-concept optimization.

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 strategies, social support, and mindfulness improve the psychological well-being of Jordanian burn survivors: A descriptive correlational study

BackgroundBurn injury survivors usually experience multiple psychosocial problems, which occur commonly in low and middle-income countries. However, the previous literature provides limited information about the unique roles of coping strategies, social support, and mindfulness in improving the psychological well-being of burn survivors. Therefore, this study identified the role of coping strategies, social support, and mindfulness in improving the psychological well-being of burn survivors. MethodsA descriptive correlational study on 224 burn survivors at a large government hospital in Amman, Jordan, was conducted. Participants completed questionnaires about socio-demographic and clinical data, anxiety and depression, social support, mindfulness, and coping. Standard multiple regression was performed to identify the unique role of the main study variables in improving the psychological well-being of burn survivors. ResultsParticipants were found to have a severe level of psychological distress. Escape avoidance coping had the highest mean score among all other coping strategies, while acceptance of responsibility had the lowest mean score. Regression analysis showed that confrontive coping (β = −0.224, p=p<0.01), social support (β = −.212, p=p<0.01), and mindfulness (β = −.403, p=p<0.01) were significantly associated with less psychological distress. ConclusionsTherefore, confrontive coping, social support, and mindfulness-based supportive interventions could be helpful in providing enhanced support to burn survivors.

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.

COPING STRATEGIES AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE REDUCTION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS EXPERIENCED BY NURSES IN HANDLING COVID-19 CASES

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;In facing the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesian nurses have to work under pressure and non-stop because of the imbalance of the ratio between nurses and patients. It affects their psychological health and results in a lot of nurses feeling stressed while doing their job. This study aims to find out about the effect of coping strategies – emotion-focused coping, problem-focused coping, and escape-avoidance coping - in reducing the psychological effects experienced by Indonesian nurses in handling COVID-19 cases. A total of 110 nurses who work in special referral hospitals and treating COVID-19 patients participated in this study. Using multiple regression analysis, the study found that there is reduction in COVID-19’s psychological effect when they employ coping strategies, with the highest result being problem-focused coping supported by the presence of such medical aids as PPE (personal protective equipment), and ventilators which enable them to focus on the job better and feel assured of their own safety. This study not only finds that nurses find a way to reduce their stress but also recommend that a solution for the reduction of COVID-19 effects is for government to ensure their safety by providing and distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) evenly and thoroughly to ensure safety and reduce nurses' stress. This study contributes to understanding how Indonesian medical personnel cope with the COVID-19 effects by employing coping strategies, and adds novel empirical contribution to scant research on Indonesian medical personnel and COVID-19 effects in an Indonesian context.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Keywords: Coping Strategy, Stress, Nurses, Psychological Effect, Covid-19&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Coping Patterns and Emotional Distress in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Who Are Undergoing Lung Transplant Evaluation.

Living with severe lung disease like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a very stressful situation. The way patients cope may impact their symptoms of anxiety and depression and physical function as well. We studied how ways of coping are associated with levels of emotional distress and lung function in patients with COPD being evaluated for lung transplantation. Sixty-five (mean age 57 years, 46% females) patients completed the General Health Questionnaire-30 (GHQ-30) assessing emotional distress and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Measurements of lung function and 6-minute walk test were included. Seventeen (26%) patients had elevated emotional distress. Logistic regression of chronic GHQ score with gender, age, body mass index, lung function, and coping scales as covariates showed that escape avoidance and self-controlling coping and forced vital lung capacity were significantly associated with high emotional distress. Odds ratio of emotional distress increased with 5.2 per tertile (P = .011) in escape avoidance coping score. Moreover, we revealed that emotionally distressed patients cope with their current situation by refusing to believe the current situation and taking their distress out on other people. Among patients with COPD, a high level of emotional distress was uniquely associated with escape-avoidance coping and lung function. Future work should ascertain whether coping style predicts distress or whether distress increases the use of escape-avoidance coping. Nevertheless, our findings indicate that if either element is present, health care professionals should be attentive to the need for interventions to improve patients' well-being.

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 .

Correlation between ways of coping and quality of life in Iranian husbands of women with breast cancer.

Palliative nursing care provides the best possible quality of life (QoL) for patients who face life-threatening conditions, such as breast cancer, and their families. It seems that coping with breast cancer can affect couples' QoL. Hence, this study aimed to assess the potential role of ways of coping (WOC) in QoL among husbands of women with breast cancer. In this cross-sectional study, 150 men whose wives were affected by non-metastatic breast cancer and were at least 4 months post-diagnosis, were recruited. The Persian version of the WOC questionnaire (WOCQ) and the World Health Organization's QoL brief questionnaire (WHOQoL-BREF) were used to measure WOC and QoL. ThePearson correlation test was applied to assess bivariate correlation of the variables. A significant direct correlation was found between the total WHOQoL-BREF score and all subscales of WOCQ, except escape-avoidance coping (r=-0.017, P=0.830). Most dimensions of the WHOQoL-BREF and WOCQ subscales were correlated significantly and directly. Nevertheless, escape-avoidance coping had a significant indirect correlation with the physical dimension of WHOQoL-BREF (r=-0.220, P=0.007). Findings indicated a need for coping-based interventions in palliative nursing to improve QoL in husbands of women with breast cancer.

Identifying and Predicting Multiple Trajectories of Alcohol Dependence Symptoms in a Canadian Sample of Emerging Adults

Working with data from the Manitoba Longitudinal Study of Young Adults (four cycles over 4 years; mean baseline age of 18.9 years), this study used latent class growth analysis to identify four alcohol dependence trajectory classes—low, decreasing (nondependence); high, decreasing (developmentally limited); low, increasing (adult onset); and persistently class were also identified: Being male, illicit drug use, stressful life events, impulsivity, and escape-avoidance coping style were all associated with increased probability of being in the more symptomatic trajectory classes, while self-esteem was associated with increased probability of being in the low symptom class. The results are discussed in relation to the issue of multifinality and implications for diagnoses, treatment, and prevention.

Relationships among Symptom Management Burden, Coping Responses, and Caregiver Psychological Distress at End of Life.

Family caregivers (FCGs) face numerous stressors and are at heightened risk of psychological distress. While theoretical explanations exist linking caregiving stressors with outcomes such as anxiety and depression, limited testing of these theories has occurred among FCGs of patients nearing the end of life. Researchers sought to evaluate mediational relationships among burden experienced by hospice FCGs because of symptom management demands, caregivers' coping responses, and caregivers' psychological distress. Quantitative data for this descriptive exploratory study were collected through survey. Hypothesized relationships among caregiver variables were examined with structural equation modeling. Respondents were FCGs (N = 228) of hospice patients receiving services from a large, non-profit community hospice in the Mid-Southern United States. Burden associated with managing hospice patients' psychological symptoms was shown to predict psychological distress for FCGs. Caregivers' use of escape-avoidance coping responses mediated this relationship. Results suggest that FCGs would benefit from additional tools to address patients' psychological symptoms at end of life. When faced with psychological symptom management burden, caregivers need a range of coping skills as alternatives to escape-avoidance coping.

Co-development of Problem Gambling and Depression Symptoms in Emerging Adults: A Parallel-Process Latent Class Growth Model.

This study examines whether there are multiple joint trajectories of depression and problem gambling co-development in a sample of emerging adults. Data were from the Manitoba Longitudinal Study of Young Adults (n=679), which was collected in 4 waves across 5years (age 18-20 at baseline). Parallel process latent class growth modeling was used to identified 5 joint trajectory classes: low decreasing gambling, low increasing depression (81%); low stable gambling, moderate decreasing depression (9%); low stable gambling, high decreasing depression (5%); low stable gambling, moderate stable depression (3%); moderate stable problem gambling, no depression (2%). There was no evidence of reciprocal growth in problem gambling and depression in any of the joint classes. Multinomial logistic regression analyses of baseline risk and protective factors found that only neuroticism, escape-avoidance coping, and perceived level of family social support were significant predictors of joint trajectory class membership. Consistent with the pathways model framework, we observed that individuals in the problem gambling only class were more likely using gambling as a stable way to cope with negative emotions. Similarly, high levels of neuroticism and low levels of family support were associated with increased odds of being in a class with moderate to high levels of depressive symptoms (but low gambling problems). The results suggest that interventions for problem gambling and/or depression need to focus on promoting more adaptive coping skills among more "at-risk" young adults, and such interventions should be tailored in relation to specific subtypes of comorbid mental illness.

Coping in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Implications for Practitioners

Abstract Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) occurs in 6%-15% of women. Some international studies have demonstrated that women with PCOS use maladaptive coping to manage stress. In this study we examined coping strategies used to manage stressful situations in 72 women with PCOS in the United States. Most women used adaptive coping, including social support, problem-solving, and positive reappraisal. A subset of women with increased psychological severity scores used maladaptive coping, including increased escape-avoidance coping and less problem-solving and positive reappraisal coping. Nurse practitioners have a valuable role in assessing coping skills in women with PCOS and intervening with adaptive coping interventions.