Positive Coping Strategies Research Articles

Navigating the Emotional and Psychological Landscape of Cancer: A Narrative Inquiry into the Stages of Grief and the Role of Religion and Social Support

This study delves into the multifaceted nature of the cancer diagnosis journey, revealing the intricate interplay between emotional responses, religious beliefs, and social support. Utilizing narrative inquiry and reflexivity, the research aligns with established literature on grief, demonstrating that cancer patients' emotional experiences often diverge from Kübler-Ross's linear stages of grief, reflecting a more individualized and dynamic process. The methodology involved personal narrative analysis and qualitative examination of emotional stages—shock, anger, fear, hope, acceptance, sorrow, and bargaining— each influencing coping mechanisms in unique ways. Fear of death emerges as a prominent response to a cancer diagnosis, profoundly impacting patients' behavior and emotional state. This fear, often marked by distress and anxiety, can either deter individuals from seeking care or motivate them to pursue treatment, depending on how it is managed. Hope, in contrast, plays a crucial role in sustaining resilience and promoting positive coping strategies. The presence of hope, bolstered by supportive medical teams and loved ones, significantly enhances quality of life and treatment outcomes, while its absence can lead to psychological distress and hinder recovery. Religious beliefs and spirituality offer a framework for understanding and managing illness, providing meaning and purpose that can alleviate distress. Strong social support networks are essential in buffering against depression and improving overall quality of life. Conversely, the absence of such support exacerbates negative outcomes and affects treatment efficacy. Depression, a prevalent but often underdiagnosed condition among cancer patients, significantly impacts quality of life and treatment success. Effective cancer care must encompass both physical and mental health dimensions, with accurate diagnosis and comprehensive support being critical. The findings underscore the need for a holistic approach to cancer care that addresses the complex emotional and psychological landscape of terminal illness, incorporating strategies to manage fear and foster hope while providing culturally sensitive and robust support systems for patients.

Coping, connection appraisal, and well-being during COVID-19 in the U.S., Japan, and Mexico.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly every facet of life, constituting a "new normal" and prompting an ongoing collective psychological crisis. People's ways of coping with the pandemic and corresponding well-being are of particular research interest; however, these constructs have largely been examined using deductive quantitative approaches, deficit-based lenses, and mononational samples. The current mixed-methods study used inductive-sequential (QUAL → QUAN) approaches to explore positive coping strategies (approach coping style and COVID-related connection appraisal) and well-being (loneliness, distress, and happiness) across individuals from the United States, Japan, and Mexico. Qualitative data were gathered from N = 141 U.S., Japanese, and Mexican adults to examine how people perceived connection during the pandemic. Qualitative analyses illuminated common themes in which people appraised the pandemic as an opportunity for connection and strengthened interpersonal relationships. Quantitative measures, including a newly-developed questionnaire on COVID-related connection appraisal, were then administered to a separate sample of N = 302 adults in the U.S, Japan, and Mexico to assess associations among approach coping style, COVID-related connection appraisal, and well-being outcomes (loneliness, distress, happiness). Quantitative analyses found significant associations among approach coping style, COVID-related connection appraisal, and all well-being outcomes. Of note, these associations did not differ by country. COVID-related connection appraisal mediated the relationship between approach coping style and two well-being outcomes (loneliness and happiness). Findings point to approach coping style and connection appraisal as pathways for resilience and growth in the face of global suffering.

Exploring the Relationship Between Coffee Shop Visitors' Coping Strategies and Well-Being

This article investigates the relationship between coping strategies and the well-being of coffee shop visitors. Coffee shops serve as more than just places to get coffee; they provide individuals with a space to unwind, socialize, and cope with stress. Using a mixed-methods approach, including quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, this study explores the experiences of visitors from different age groups in three coffee shops. The findings reveal that sensory engagement, visit duration, and the overall ambiance of coffee shops significantly contribute to emotional relaxation and well-being. Coffee shop owners can leverage these findings to create supportive environments that promote positive coping strategies and enhance the well-being of their customers. Further research is needed to validate these findings in different contexts and examine the long-term effects of coping strategies in coffee shop settings. Understanding the connection between coping strategies and well-being in coffee shop environments has implications for mental health promotion and the development of supportive spaces for individuals to cope with daily pressures.

Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and its relationship with coping strategies among flood victims: Evidence from Iran

IntroductionPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent and highly debilitating mental disorder that often occurs following accidents and natural disasters. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of PTSD among flood victims in Lorestan, Iran and examine its relationship with coping strategies. MethodsThis descriptive-analytical study included 470 flood victims in Lorestan, Iran within the first year after the flood in 2019. Participants were selected through simple random sampling. The research utilized the PTSD checklist and coping strategies questionnaire as data collection instruments. Data analysis involved independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and the Pearson correlation coefficient, with a significance level of 0.05, using SPSS software version 22. ResultsThe prevalence of PTSD among flood victims in Lorestan, Iran was found to be 12.8 %. Women, individuals over 35 years old, those with an education level below high school, married individuals, and people with low income exhibited higher PTSD prevalence and average total coping strategies scores. Passive coping strategies (r = 0.267, p < 0.001), social coping strategies (r = 0.148, p = 0.004), and the overall coping score (r = 0.153, p = 0.003) demonstrated a direct and significant correlation with the average PTSD score. ConclusionThis study highlights the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among flood survivors, especially among vulnerable groups such as the elderly, women, and those with low socio-economic status. To enhance post-disaster adaptation, support organizations should implement various strategies including resilience-building, mental health awareness campaigns, and improved access to healthcare services. Effective screening and promoting positive coping strategies are crucial for supporting survivors' psychological well-being.

COVID-19 in the Media: Stressors and Coping Mechanisms among Black Individuals

ABSTRACT Using survey data of 330 self-identified Black individuals, we examine how Black individuals coped with news media coverage about the negative consequences of COVID-19 for Black communities, and what stressors other than COVID-19 news coverage they experienced. We find that Black individuals relied primarily on healthy, positive-coping strategies (e.g., taking proactive health measures, spending time with family and friends, and focusing on work), with substance abuse, denial of reality, and news avoidance being the only maladaptive behaviors. Other stressors include personal health concerns, political and racial justice issues, and insecurities about employment, housing, finances, and the future. The research promotes narratives of how Black individuals navigate messaging about their cultural group during the pandemic and also addresses the role of intercultural communication via means of news consumption as a potential mechanism to encourage individual wellbeing.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ROLE CAPTIVITY, COPING STRATEGIE,S AND DEMENTIA FAMILY CAREGIVER MENTAL HEALTH

Abstract Informal caregivers of individuals living with dementia have an increased risk for experiencing depressive and anxiety symptoms. The stress-process model posits that situational stressors and stress moderators, such as role captivity and coping strategies, predict worse mental health outcomes; however, relatively little is known about the relationship between role captivity and specific coping strategies dementia caregivers use to manage caregiving-related stress. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between role captivity, coping strategies, and depressive and anxiety symptoms. A preliminary analysis was conducted on a sample of community-dwelling family caregivers (N=30) from an ongoing national study on daily caregiving experiences. Data were analyzed using regression analysis. Dementia family caregivers reported moderate anxiety symptoms, measured by the GAD-7 (M= 11.86, SD= 4.39) and moderate depressive symptoms, measured by the CESD, (M=19.59, SD= 12.67). The sample’s mean age was 54.7 years old and 76.7% female. Role captivity was positively associated with depression (β=2.98, t(28) = 3.94, p&amp;lt; 0.001) and anxiety (β= 0.92, t(28) = 3.31, p&amp;lt; 0.01) among dementia caregivers. Avoidant coping was positively associated role captivity (β=0.31, t(28) = 4.27, p&amp;lt; 0.001). The results of this study suggest role captivity is associated with an increase in depression and anxiety among dementia caregivers. Further, avoidant coping is associated with an increase in role captivity reported by caregivers. The findings from this study support the benefit of interventions that help dementia family caregivers in their role and promote the use of positive coping strategies.

Debate: Social media content moderation may do more harm than good for youth mental health.

Most social media platforms censor and moderate content related to mental illness to protect users from harm, though this may be at the expense of potential positive outcomes for youth mental health. Current evidence does not offer strong support for the relationship between censoring mental health content and preventing harm. In fact, existing moderation strategies can perpetuate negative consequences for mental health by creating isolated and polarized communities where at-risk youth remain exposed to harmful content, such as pro-eating disorder communities that use lexical variants to evade censorship. Social media censorship of content related to mental illness can also silence positive discourse about mental health, create barriers to accessing online support and resources, and hinder research efforts on youth well-being. Social media content about mental health can have important positive impacts on youth mental health by facilitating help-seeking, depicting positive coping strategies, and promoting a sense of belonging for struggling youth, but these benefits are minimized under existing moderation and censorship practices. This article presents a call to action for evidence-based social media policies and for practitioners to consider the clinical implications of social media engagement when connecting with young patients.

Turning to religion as a mediator of the relationship between hopelessness and job satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals representing the uniformed services or working in professions of public trust in Poland.

During the COVID-19 pandemic individuals performing uniformed service or working in a profession of public trust were particularly exposed to chronic stress. The exposure to stress contributes to a decrease in quality of life across various domains, including professional performance. The perceived mental difficulties can lead to a feeling of hopelessness which, in turn can generate a decrease in job satisfaction. Religiosity is a factor which, in stress-inducing conditions, not only stops the spiral of perceived resource losses but also triggers gains in the resources possessed. The aim of the study was to assess the preference for positive religious coping strategies, namely turning to religion as a mediator for the relationship between perceived hopelessness and job satisfaction in the individuals declaring religiosity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis has been performed based on the Conservation of Resources theory (COR). The study encompassed 238 individuals representing the uniformed services or working in professions of public trust in Poland. The Inventory for Measuring Coping with Stress (MINI-COPE) and the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) were used in the research. The mediating role of turning to religion in relationship between perceived hopelessness and job satisfaction was confirmed only in the group of women. The relationship found in this group indicates that perceived hopelessness is alleviated by turning to religion, which simultaneously leads to an increase in job satisfaction. The obtained results prove that counselling should be standard practice after potentially traumatic events in the workplace; moreover, emotional and/or instrumental support should be offered along with spiritual one.

Assimilating Problematic Experiences through Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in Adolescence with Social Anxiety Disorder: A Case Study

Introduction: Social anxiety is common among adolescents, and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based intervention. We present a case of a 17-year-old girl, called Z, who was diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) and undergone CBT. Z presented with school refusal and social avoidance due to excessive negative thoughts about herself and others thinking badly of her. Methods: A brief psychoeducational-based CBT was conducted over 10 weekly sessions with the emphasis on psychoeducation, behavioural and cognitive skills training, and practices at home, as well as reflective discussion to modify negative beliefs, increase the use of positive coping strategies, and understanding of problematic experiences. Pre-intervention scores were compared to mid and post-intervention using Beck Youth Inventory (BYI) and Assimilation of Problematic Experiences Scales (APES). Outcomes: Pre-intervention BYI scores revealed an extremely elevated level of anxiety and depression symptoms, anger, and disruptive behaviours, with a much lower-than-average level of self-concept. APES revealed a score of 1/7 at the pre-intervention phase. Towards the end of the session, Z reported significantly reduced scores in anxiety, depression, and anger symptoms. The scores on the APES demonstrated an increased awareness, understanding and clarification towards her problematic experience, as well as application of her understanding in problem-solving efforts. Conclusion: It is apparent that CBT has a positive effect in adolescents with social anxiety.

Coping strategies among professional social work trainees - A cross-sectional study from India's capital city.

To find out the nature of coping strategies and the relationship between coping strategies and background characteristics of Master of Social Work (MSW) students in Delhi. The sample size is 297 (male 123 and female 174) by adopting a non-probability purposive method. A survey among the MSW students (first and second years) of four Universities in Delhi was carried out. The result shows that the most used coping strategies are positive in nature (emotional and problem-focused). The utilization of coping strategies is influenced by the background characteristics of the respondents. It necessitates further awareness of positive coping strategies by introducing changes in the curriculum of the MSW program.

Development of Physical Skills and Personality in High School Students Through Football Training as an Extracurricular Activity

There is a growing interest in extracurricular and out-of-school activities for pupils, given their positive effects on the development of individuals. In the present study we aimed to develop a training program for the game of football as an extracurricular activity that integrates both physical skills and personality traits in high school students. The research design assumed a pre-posttest design, with the dependent samples t-test used as the statistical method of investigation. The physical abilities tracked in the study were body mass index, body harmony, exercise endurance, fitness, body recovery after exercise and endurance running. As personality traits we looked at dominance, emotional stability, spontaneity, sensitivity, intelligence, conformity and discipline, sense of self, and refocusing on planning as a positive cognitive-emotional coping strategy. The results show that football, as an extracurricular activity, offers the possibility of harmonious physical and mental development of young people.

Coping strategies among adolescents and young adults living with HIV/AIDS in Accra-Ghana

BackgroundLiving with HIV/AIDS is remarkably stressful and has an adverse effect on one’s physical and mental health. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy has led to an increased number of children with perinatal acquired HIV who are living into adolescence and adulthood. Developing strategies to cope with HIV becomes imperative, especially among these adolescents. The study determined the factors that influence coping strategies among adolescents living with HIV.MethodsAn analytic cross-sectional design was used. A total of 154 adolescents aged 10–19 years living with HIV were systematically sampled at the Fevers Unit of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital from June to December, 2021. The adolescent version of the KidCope tool was used to assess the choice of coping strategies. Stata 16 was used to determine associations between independent variables and the coping strategies identified. Only variables that were significant at p = 0.1 or less in the crude model were used to run the adjusted regression model. The level of significance was set at p = 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval.ResultsThe mean age of participants was 19.2 ± 0.45 years with 51.9% (80/154) of participants being males. A majority, 57.1% of the participants employed positive coping strategies with 87.0% (135/154) using cognitive restructuring strategy. In an adjusted linear regression model, participants coping strategies were significantly associated with their educational level (p = 0.04) and presence of both parents as caregivers (p = 0.02).ConclusionParticipants largely adopted positive coping strategies in managing the disease. Factors that influenced the choice of coping strategies were higher levels of education and the presence of both parents as caregivers. The importance of a good social support structure and pursuing further education needs to be emphasized in counselling adolescents living with HIV as it promotes the choice of positive coping strategies.

Post-Covid Adaptation: Students' Mental Health and Higher Education System in Indonesia

The pandemic brought many changes, including for students. Various negative things experienced by students have an impact on their mental health. However, there are coping mechanisms that can bring positive changes to students' lives and help them survive the post-pandemic period. This research aimed to explore: the problems, level of stress, coping mechanisms carried out by students, and resilience level during the pandemic; the student's mental health situation during post-pandemic; and the recommendation for higher education (HE) institutions to support students' mental health. The research included 5018 students in bachelor's programs from 20 universities of APTIK members via quota sampling method on gender and class year (stage 1); and reports from students about their psychological symptoms during classes (n = 5 classes) and counseling (n = 10 cases) and literature review from explore 13 articles via Google scholar and Google search engine (stage 2). The study results show that students had many learning and social life challenges. Students who can develop positive coping with stress will be resilient and benefit from the experience during the pandemic, such as increased online learning skills, health awareness, and good time management. A positive coping strategy empowers the students to develop good mental health and survive during the pandemic, together with the support of the education system in higher education institutions. The institution should provide leadership, a good governance system, conducive teaching and learning system, and an appreciation for diversity and inclusivity to support students' mental health. The system should support the various changes experienced by students. With a good strategy and governance, there will be clarity and comfort so that it does not exacerbate the mental health problems encountered by many students. The impact is that students are more prepared and confident to connect with the industry world.

The mediating role of spiritual engagement in the relationship between religiosity and religious coping. Cross-sectional study among polish students

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine how spiritual engagement may mediate the relationship between an individual's religiosity and their use of religious coping strategies.Material and methodsA total of 342 students from two universities in eastern Poland participated in the study. The average age was 20.85 [95% CI: 20.607-21.095] years old. The data were collected using the two standardized scales: the Brief - Religious Coping Questionnaire (Brief RCOPE) and Spiritual Attitude and Involvement List (SAIL).ResultsIt was observed that positive religious coping strategies prevailed among the students surveyed. The highest-rated SAIL subscale was the Meaningfulness (4.65; 95% CI: 4.571-4.723), while the lowest was Transcendent Experience (3.28; 95% CI: 3.172-3.384). Significant positive correlations were found between the six areas of spirituality assessed by the SAIL scale and positive religious coping strategies. The results showed a significant total effect of religiosity on positive religious coping (beta=0,755; B=7.665;p&lt;0.001; 95% CI: 6.30; 8.40).The direct effect of religiosity on positive religious coping was significant (beta=0,562; B=5.706; p&lt;0.001; 95% CI: 4.85; 6.56). The effect of religiosity on positive religious coping was partially mediated by Transcendent Experiences and Spiritual Activities. The total indirect effect was 0.193 (95% CI: 0.125; 0.265).ConclusionsThe introducing aspects of spirituality and religiosity into higher education programs can help students of both medical and non-medical faculties to respond to the many difficult situations of daily life and move forward with a sense of achieving their designated tasks and goals.

Opportunities to engage in positive activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives of individuals with mood disorders

BackgroundDespite cross-sectional population and clinical studies finding individuals with existing mood disorders being adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, longitudinal studies have not shown a worsening of psychiatric symptoms. In response to these findings, we explored opportunities to engage in positive activities during the pandemic from the perspectives of individuals with mood disorders. MethodsA bespoke survey, containing closed and open questions, was sent to participants with mood disorders who were part of the UK Bipolar Disorder Research Network (BDRN). Questions related to experiences of positive impacts of the pandemic, levels of engagement in positive activities and coping strategies. ResultsResponse rate was 46.4 % (N = 1688). 61.9 % reported positive life changes during the pandemic, with slower pace of life reported most frequently (52.8 %). 47.3 % reported no adverse impact of the pandemic on implementing their usual coping strategies. Activities that respondents most commonly reported the same or greater level of engagement in compared to before the pandemic were avoiding known mood triggers (82.3 %), relaxation techniques (78.8 %) and the ability to maintain set routines (69.4 %). LimitationsResponder bias may be present and experiences during the pandemic are likely to differ among other clinical and research mood disorders cohorts. ConclusionsOur findings may help to explain why longitudinal studies have not found a worsening of mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying potential facilitators to maintaining mental health have wider applicability, and may help to inform future evidence-based psychoeducation and self-management programmes for mood disorders.

Young people’s happiness in the context of negative life events and coping strategies: a latent profile and latent class analysis

Young people have to cope with many negative life events and stress factors to maintain their happiness. Although there are studies on how they benefit from different coping strategies and their results, there is no study that profiles/groups young people according to negative life events and coping styles. From this point of view, the study aims to determine different life events classes and stress coping profiles in young people, and to examine the differences in happiness among the new groups created according to the discovered classes and profiles. Participants consisted of 1093 young people (M = 21.08) from different state universities in Turkey. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted, resulting in a 3 profile solution characterizing coping strategies: Positive-oriented (26.8%), slightly positive-oriented (50%), and negative-oriented (23.2%) coping strategy profiles. Latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted, resulting in a 2 class solution characterizing negative life events: More negative (40.1%) and less negative (59.9%) life events classes. For the purpose of the study, the profiles created with the latent profile analysis and the latent class analysis were considered together and the participants were divided into 6 groups. These groups differed significantly in terms of happiness. The group with the highest level of happiness is the group with positive-oriented coping strategies and less negative life conditions (μ = 4.35, p < .001), and the group with the lowest level of happiness is the group with negative-oriented coping strategies and more negative life conditions (μ = 3.48, p < .001). However, the findings indicated that a positive-oriented coping strategy profile (the profile that scored high on positive coping strategies and low on negative coping strategies) offers the most promising route to happiness whether experienced negative life events are less or more.

5.81 Positive Coping Strategies as Predictors of Resilience

5.81 Positive Coping Strategies as Predictors of Resilience

Core values and Cognitive Behavioral Art Therapy in psychological health education for students with anxiety

BackgroundStudents’ psychological problems due to academic, interpersonal, and future planning pressures are becoming increasingly apparent in a modern, fast-paced society. Among them, anxiety disorder has become a common problem many students face. At the same time, core values and cognitive behavioral art therapy can identify and adjust unhealthy cognitive and emotional patterns through creative art. Based on this, this study uses the above two methods to provide appropriate interventions for students’ mental health.Subjects and MethodsThe study selected 100 students with anxiety disorders and randomly divided them into an experimental group and a control group with 50 participants each. The experimental group received mental health education based on core values and Cognitive Behavioral Art Therapy while the control group received routine mental health education. The experimental period is six months, and SDS and SAS are used to evaluate the psychological status of students.Results The data shows that the anxiety symptoms in the experimental group have significantly improved, with a total effective rate of 87%, while the effective rate in the control group is 65%. In addition, the experimental group students’ self-efficacy, positive coping strategies, and life satisfaction significantly improved.ConclusionsResearch methods help alleviate students’ anxiety symptoms and cultivate students’ self-awareness, self-worth, and coping strategies. This provides new ideas and methods for future school mental health education.Acknowledgement2022 Shaanxi Fashion Engineering School (No.2022KY32).

Therapy Dog Presence in an Undergraduate Nursing Program.

Research supports the use of animal-assisted interactions and pet therapy in various settings. Undergraduate nursing students experience high levels of stress and anxiety which often continue as they become professional nurses. Entering the workforce equipped with positive coping strategies may help newly licensed nurses to combat stressors. This qualitative descriptive study examined the experiences of undergraduate nursing students with the presence of a therapy dog. Four major themes regarding the role of therapy dogs were identified: as a coping strategy, as a mood moderator, as a positive distraction, and for community building.

The correlation between theatrical artistic expression and employees’ resistance to PTSD

BackgroundDrama art, as a diverse art form, provides practitioners with a unique way of self-expression through role-playing, situational simulation, and emotional expression. Personnel engaged in theatrical performances often experience psychological injuries due to uncontrollable factors such as insufficient rehearsals, which can develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Based on this background, this study aims to analyze the correlation between the two.Subjects and MethodsThis study used both qualitative and quantitative methods. Through in-depth interviews, questionnaire surveys, and psychological tests, 300 theatrical art practitioners were selected for a 12-month follow-up study. Evaluate the patient’s status using the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Self-Rating Scale (PTSD-SS). During the experiment, SPSS 24.0 was used for statistical data analysis.Results The study found that compared to practitioners who are less involved in theatrical expression, practitioners who frequently participate in theatrical art expression have a lower proportion of PTSD after experiencing traumatic events. In addition, practitioners who delve into theatrical role-playing and emotional expression have more positive and healthy emotional regulation abilities and strategies for coping with trauma.ConclusionsThe expression of theatrical art provides practitioners with a powerful psychological adjustment tool, which helps them confront and prevent post-traumatic psychological disorders. This provides a new approach to treatment and intervention in the mental health field and brings new value and significance to drama art education and practice.