Levels Of Avoidant Coping Research Articles

Factors Associated With Psychosocial Illness Impact Among Black/African American and Hispanic Older Women Living With HIV.

In 2018, one in six newly diagnosed individuals with HIV in the United States were adults aged 50 years and older, 24% were women, and 60% were Black/African American and Hispanic (42% and 18%, respectively). This study aims to examine the factors associated with HIV psychosocial illness impact among Black/African American and Hispanic older women living with HIV. Guided by the socioecological model, a secondary data analysis design with cross-sectional data that included 138 Black/African American and Hispanic women aged 50 years and older was conducted. Higher levels of avoidant coping, depressive symptoms, negative self-perception of health, and decreased social support were significant factors associated with HIV psychosocial illness impact among this sample. Findings from this study can contribute to identifying solutions to prevent and decrease these negative factors associated with HIV psychosocial illness impact among Black/African American and Hispanic older women.

Longitudinal Relationships Between Neuroticism, Avoidant Coping, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Adolescents Following the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake in China

The Wenchuan earthquake, which occurred in southwestern China in May 2008, was a source of severe psychological distress to adolescents. This study explored the developmental trajectory of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and the longitudinal relationships between neuroticism, avoidant coping, and PTSD symptoms measured at three time points: 1 year (T1), 1.5 years (T2), and 2 years (T3) after the earthquake. The participants included 636 adolescents from several high schools located in the areas that were most severely affected by the earthquake. Structural equation modeling results revealed bidirectional effects between neuroticism, avoidant coping, and PTSD symptoms. More severe PTSD symptoms predicted higher levels of avoidant coping at T1–T2 and T2–T3 but only predicted higher levels of neuroticism at T1–T2. Higher levels of neuroticism at T1 predicted more severe PTSD symptoms at T1–T2, while higher levels of avoidant coping at T1 predicted more severe PTSD symptoms at T2–T3.

Alexithymia and Avoidance Coping Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Individuals who develop maladaptive coping styles after traumatic brain injury (TBI) usually experience difficulty expressing their emotional state, increasing the risk of psychological distress. Difficulties expressing emotion and identifying feelings are features of alexithymia, which is prevalent following TBI. To examine the relations among coping styles, alexithymia, and psychological distress following TBI. Seventy-one patients with TBI drawn from a head injury clinic population and 54 demographically matched healthy controls. Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, Estonian COPE-D Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Beck Anxiety Inventory. The participants with TBI exhibited significantly higher rates of alexithymia and psychological distress and lower levels of task-oriented coping than healthy controls. Levels of avoidance coping and psychological distress were significantly higher in a subgroup of TBI patients with alexithymia than in a non-alexithymic TBI subsample. There were significant relations among alexithymia, avoidance coping, and levels of psychological distress. Regression analysis revealed that difficulty identifying feelings was a significant predictor for psychological distress. Early screening for alexithymia following TBI might identify those most at risk of developing maladaptive coping mechanisms. This could assist in developing early rehabilitation interventions to reduce vulnerability to later psychological distress.

Avoidance and Inhibition Do Not Predict Nonrespondent Bias Among Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BackgroundIt has been suggested that participant withdrawal from studies can bias estimates. However, this is only possible when withdrawers and nonwithdrawers differ in an important way. We tested the hypothesis that withdrawers are more likely than nonwithdrawers to be avoidant and negatively affected.MethodsA total of 1160 participants with inflammatory bowel disease were recruited at different sites in Switzerland. Their levels of avoidance coping and negative affectivity were rated by means of 2 short baseline questionnaires. One year later, they were sent a longer follow-up questionnaire. The primary outcome was return versus non-return of the follow-up questionnaire within 3 months. After controlling for potential confounders identified in an extensive literature search, we estimated the odds of returning the follow-up questionnaire for 1 standard deviation of avoidance coping and negative affectivity.ResultsThe odds ratio for 1 standard deviation was 1.03 (95% confidence interval: 0.89–1.18) for avoidance coping and 1.02 (0.89–1.17) for negative affectivity.ConclusionsThe odds of returning the questionnaires did not depend on avoidance coping or negative affectivity.

Family‐focused treatment for caregivers of patients with bipolar disorder

Family members of patients with bipolar disorder experience high rates of subjective and objective burden which place them at risk for adverse physical health and mental health outcomes. We present preliminary efficacy data from a novel variation of Family Focused Treatment [Miklowitz DJ. Bipolar Disorder: A Family-Focused Treatment Approach (2(nd) ed.). New York: The Guilford Press, 2008] that aimed to reduce symptoms of bipolar disorder by working with caregivers to enhance illness management skills and self-care. The primary family caregivers of 46 patients with bipolar I (n = 40) or II (n = 6) disorder, diagnosed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, were assigned randomly to receive either: (i) a 12-15-session family-focused, cognitive-behavioral intervention designed to provide the caregiver with skills for managing the relative's illness, attaining self-care goals, and reducing strain, depression, and health risk behavior [Family-Focused Treatment-Health Promoting Intervention (FFT-HPI)]; or (ii) an 8- to 12-session health education (HE) intervention delivered via videotapes. We assessed patients pre- and post-treatment on levels of depression and mania and caregivers on levels of burden, health behavior, and coping. Randomization to FFT-HPI was associated with significant decreases in caregiver depressive symptoms and health risk behavior. Greater reductions in depressive symptoms among patients were also observed in the FFT-HPI group. Reduction in patients' depression was partially mediated by reductions in caregivers' depression levels. Decreases in caregivers' depression were partially mediated by reductions in caregivers' levels of avoidance coping. Families coping with bipolar disorder may benefit from family interventions as a result of changes in the caregivers' ability to manage stress and regulate their moods, even when the patient is not available for treatment.

The role of coping in moderating within-day associations between negative triggers and substance use cravings: A daily diary investigation

To address the lack of research examining within-person processes associated with the maintenance of abstinence from substance use, this study examines both associations between negative affect and social experiences and same-day levels of substance use cravings among college students in ‘Twelve-Step’ substance abuse recovery and the role of coping strategies in moderating these within-day associations. The sample consisted of 1222 end-of-day reports made by 55 recovering college students, 39 males and 16 females. Findings include that daily cravings were predicted by same-day negative affect and each of four negative social experiences. Moreover, each of these within-day associations was moderated by individuals' levels of avoidance coping. In contrast, problem-solving coping only moderated the associations between negative affect and cravings. These findings document a within-day mechanism through which coping strategies, especially avoidance coping, may influence daily variation in cravings and in turn affect abstinence.

Caregiver Burden and Health in Bipolar Disorder

To identify caregivers at risk for adverse health effects associated with caregiving, the stress, coping, health and service use of 500 primary caregivers of patients with bipolar disorder were assessed at baseline, 6, and 12 months. K-means cluster analysis and ANOVA identified and characterized groups with differing baseline stress/coping profiles. Mixed effects models examined the effects of cluster, time, and covariates on health outcomes. Three groups were identified. Burdened caregivers had higher burden and avoidance coping levels, and lower mastery and social support than effective and stigmatized caregivers; stigmatized caregivers reported the highest perceived stigma (p < 0.05). Effective and stigmatized groups had better health outcomes and less service use than the burdened group over time; stigmatized caregivers had poorer self-care than effective caregivers. Cluster analysis is a promising method for identifying subgroups of caregivers with different stress and coping profiles associated with different health-related outcomes.

NATURAL RECOVERY IN A COMMUNITY-BASED SAMPLE OF ALCOHOLICS: STUDY DESIGN AND DESCRIPTIVE DATA

The majority of alcoholics who recover do so without the benefit of treatment, yet little is known about these individuals and the factors associated with their success. A better understanding is needed of the self-initiated and maintained change processes (“natural recovery”) associated with such recoveries. In the current study, initiated in 1997, we followed up alcoholics identified in four previous community surveys and conducted a brief physical examination and an in-depth interview assessing factors thought to be associated with “natural recovery” or entry into treatment. Here we present the study model, describe our sample of 83 “naturally recovered” and 138 “hazardous problem drinkers,” and report factors associated with “natural recovery.” During the period when their drinking was at its most problematic, those who naturally recovered had discussed their alcohol-use associated problems with fewer network members and had been advised to stop drinking or to drink less by fewer network members. In addition to older age, “natural recovery” was associated with marriage, lower levels of avoidant coping, higher self-esteem, social networks with members who drank less, and a history of less frequent drug use and lower frequencies of intoxication. Rates of “natural recovery” may be increased by encouraging the development of these attributes in hazardous problem drinkers who do not already have them. [Translations are provided in the International s section of this issue.]