Proactive Coping Theory Research Articles

The Paradox of Aging-Related Fears: Fear of Loneliness in Old Age as a Motivator for Loneliness Preventive Activities

Introduction: Aging is often seen as a challenging process, prompting individuals to form emotional reactions in response to the perceived challenges associated with growing older, manifested as aging-related fears. The present study focuses on the fear of loneliness in old age, a significant concern considering the socioemotional importance of close relationships in later life. Drawing from proactive coping theory, the study explores the association between fear of loneliness and aging preparation. This research aimed to investigate whether the fear of loneliness motivates individuals to engage in activities aimed at preventing loneliness in old age. For exploratory purposes, we consider both linear and nonlinear effects at the interindividual level, as well as the intraindividual-level differences between fear levels and behavioral outcomes. In addition, we also investigate the moderating role of trait neuroticism in these associations. Methods: Data from the “Ageing as Future (AAF)” project in Germany (N = 1,183) spanning from 2012 to 2023 were utilized. A multilevel model considered both intra- and interindividual variations, incorporating time-varying variables and covariates. Results: Linear mixed model analysis revealed that increased fear of loneliness corresponded to heightened engagement in preventive activities linearly, while a quadratic term indicated an inverted U-shaped relationship. The inclusion of occasion-specific deviation scores showed that individuals were more inclined to engage in preventive activities when experiencing heightened fear of loneliness than usual. This impact of deviation in fear perception was particularly evident among those with high levels of trait neuroticism. Conclusion: The study reveals that fear of loneliness in old age is associated with proactive engagement in preventive activities, with those prone to higher levels of fear or worry being particularly affected. These results emphasize the importance of a moderate level of fear in driving action without succumbing to excessive pessimism or unrealistic optimism. The findings contribute to understanding the motivational role of aging-related fears and hold implications for gerontological practices, emphasizing the need for a balanced fear perception in addressing potential negative impacts of aging. Future research could explore moderators and long-term consequences of motivational aging-related fears.

STRESSORS OF FILIAL ANXIETY REGARDING ANTICIPATED CARE OF OLDER PARENTS: EVIDENCE FROM CHINESE ADULT CHILDREN

Abstract Evidence has shown that the anticipation of providing care for a parent in the future can be anxiety-provoking for adult children, especially for one-child generations in China. Filial anxiety may influence adult children’s transition to the caregiver role and may bring about heightened caregiving stress. However, this phenomenon remains insufficiently studied among Chinese adult children. Drawing on the Stress Process Model and proactive coping theory, this study examined how primary stressors (i.e., parent’s declining health, adverse psychological health, and lack of eldercare resources), anticipatory stressor (i.e., anticipated parental care needs), and psychosocial resources (i.e., sibling number, the value of filial obligation, intergenerational relationship, work stress, and family stress) influenced the multiple domains of filial anxiety (i.e., Filial Anxiety-Ability, Filial Anxiety-Responsibility, and Filial Anxiety-Welfare). A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted with 530 Chinese adult children aged between 26 and 40 years in Shenzhen, China. Descriptive analyses and regression analyses were conducted. Results demonstrated that Chinese adult children experienced a higher level of overall filial anxiety than their Western counterparts and reported a particularly high level of filial anxiety about their parent’s welfare. Adult children with higher work and family stress, with fewer siblings, and whose parents lack eldercare resources were more likely to experience a high level of filial anxiety. This study systematically investigated the multiple stressors of filial anxiety. The findings have implications for the development of effective interventions to reduce adult children’s future caregiving concerns and better prepare them for their older parents’ future care needs.

DIGITAL LITERACY, INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND CARE PREPARATION AMONG CHINESE AGING ADULTS IN HONG KONG

Abstract The rapid ageing trend spotlights the need for more eldercare. Care preparation as a form of proactive coping can mitigate the negative effects of potential eldercare needs. Acquisition and preservation of resources are essential for effective proactive coping. The roles of digital literacy and intergenerational relationships as two significant resources in older people’s care preparation are still understudied. Integrating social convoy theory, intergenerational solidarity theory, and proactive coping theory, this study compared the levels of digital literacy, intergenerational relationships, and care preparation in son-dominant, daughter-dominant, and daughter & son-balance families; and examined the mediating effects of intergenerational relationships on the relationship between digital literacy and care preparation. Data from 3,626 participants with at least one adult child were drawn from the Panel Study of Active Ageing and Society, a biennial study conducted with a representative sample of people older than 50 years in Hong Kong. ANOVA was used to compare scores of key variables in three types of families. PROCESS was used to examine the mediation effects. Results showed that participants in a son-dominant family had the highest level of digital literacy; those in a daughter-dominant family reported the highest levels of intergenerational relationship quality and care preparation. Intergenerational relationship quality mediated the relationship between digital literacy and care preparation in three types of families while the effect sizes differed. These findings implicate the need to enhance older people’s digital literacy and foster their intergenerational relationships, thereby assisting them to be well-prepared for care needs in later life.

Influence of Successful Aging, Quality of Life, and Factors Related to Potential Stressors on Older Consumers' Purchase of Private Health Insurance in South Korea: An Empirical Study Based on Proactive Coping Theory.

Considering the weak role of public health insurance in South Korea, this study identified the impact of older consumers' coping resources such as income and education, well-being (e. g., successful aging and quality of life), and psychological and economic aspects affecting potential stressors on their purchasing of private health insurance (PHI) based on proactive coping theory. From the sixth wave of the 2016 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), a sample of 1,224 Korean older adults aged above 65 years was used; binary logistic regression was conducted to identify the association of PHI and purchase decision factors, first separately for two groups (lower/higher use of health care services), and then for the total group. The results showed that older adults with higher levels of well-being, especially with a higher successful aging index and coping resources such as income are more likely to purchase PHI in all three groups.

Career self-management of unemployed workers: the role of proactive coping in job-to-job transition

PurposeJob search behavior is an important factor of an individual's career. In this study, proactive individuals' search for career opportunities during the transition from unemployment to employment is investigated. This investigation concentrates on the “in-between jobs” phase to better understand career transition. Proactive coping is a particularly important aspect of the transition from unemployment to work.Design/methodology/approachUsing the career self-management model and proactive coping theory, this paper establishes a conceptual model and adopts path analysis to examine the model with a sample of 208 unemployed workers from Poland.FindingsThe results indicate both direct and indirect effects for proactive coping on job-seeking behavior. Unemployed job seekers, with greater proactive coping, intensify their job search behavior and increase their chances for re-employment.Practical implicationsProactive coping is an important factor in career development. The findings of this study are a promising starting point for career self-development training for unemployed workers in transition.Originality/valueMost of the training for the unemployed prepares them to react and adapt to ongoing circumstances. Our findings show the importance of being proactive during active coping with unemployment.

The influence of coping types on post-traumatic growth in patients with primary breast cancer.

The physical and mental impacts of breast cancer diagnosis on women are substantial. Several studies have investigated the negative mental health effects of breast cancer. However, in recent years, there has also been growing interest in post-traumatic growth, a positive response to stressful events. Considering positive psychology focuses on such virtues, proactive coping theory was chosen as a theoretical guide. This study investigates how breast cancer patients' post-traumatic growth is associated with proactive coping and mental well-being. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted with 80 breast cancer patients aged 20-70years attending an outpatient clinic. The survey was conducted using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-Japanese version (PTGI-J), Proactive Coping Inventory-Japanese version and the Japanese version of the General Health Questionnaire. Single regression and multiple regression analyses with PTGI-J as the dependent variable were performed. The multiple regression analysis extracted proactive coping (P=0.006), emotional support seeking (P=0.004) and avoidance coping (P=0.001) as factors associated with post-traumatic growth in breast cancer patients. These results suggest that using proactive coping for conflicts caused by a breast cancer diagnosis and temporary avoidant coping for daily stresses during the treatment process may enhance post-traumatic growth while preventing deterioration in mental well-being. Additionally, seeking emotional support is important for post-traumatic growth.

Proactive coping and gambling disorder among young men.

ObjectivesMale sex, young age, and frequent gambling are considered as risk factors for gambling disorder (GD) and stress might be one of the triggers of gambling behavior among problem gamblers. Conversely, well-developed coping with stress might counteract gambling problems. The Proactive Coping Theory provides a promising approach for the further development of preventive and treatment measures. The objective of the study was to investigate different facets of proactive coping (PC) in young male gamblers.MethodsYoung men from Bavaria were recruited via the Munich citizens’ registry (n = 2,588) and Facebook invitations (n = 105). In total, 173 out of 398 individuals were positively screened for frequent gambling and/or signs of related problems and completed the baseline questionnaire of the Munich Leisure-time Study. Factors investigated include gambling problems, PC, impulsiveness, social support, and psychological distress.ResultsGambling problems were associated with lower levels of preventive coping as well as of adaptive reaction delay. The associations were also significant when controlled for impulsiveness and general psychological distress. Preventive coping moderated the association between social support and gambling problems.Discussion and conclusionsYoung men with gambling problems less frequently prevent the occurrence of stressors and more often react hasty when these occur. While the investigated group reported good social support, this factor was negatively associated with GD only among individuals with good preventive coping. Preventive coping poses a useful construct for selective prevention and treatment as it can be modified in professional interventions.

Financial Management Competency, Financial Resources, Locus of Control, and Financial Wellness

Guided by a proactive coping theory, this online, cross-sectional study examined whether income, savings, debt service-to-income ratio, reluctance to think about finances, locus of control, and financial management competency were related to financial wellness. Based on data from a United States sample (N = 1,039), results of hierarchical regressions indicated that financial management competency, internal locus of control, and savings were positively associated with financial wellness, explaining 43.5% of the variance. Results suggest that, rather than resources themselves, resource allocation and perceived usefulness of financial actions are most critical to financial wellness. Educators and practitioners can emphasize proactive coping through behavioral approaches to financial management that foster greater internal locus of control and financial wellness.

The Restore4Stroke self-management intervention ‘Plan ahead!’: rationale and description of the treatment protocol based on proactive action planning

Objective: To describe the rationale behind and description of a group-based self-management intervention developed for stroke patients and their partners. Rationale: Based on the assumption that proactive coping strategies are beneficial for the re-uptake of daily life by stroke patients and partners, we developed a new stroke-specific, group-based self-management intervention based on proactive action planning. A first concept of the treatment protocol was developed based on the proactive coping theory, the Health Action Process Approach model, existing interventions and expert consultations. Further adjustments were based on two pilot studies, including addition of solution-based therapeutic techniques. Description of the intervention: ‘Plan ahead!’ is a 10-week group-based self-management intervention, consisting of six 2-hour sessions in the first six weeks and a 2-hour booster session in the 10th week. It is offered in an outpatient setting by two rehabilitation professionals with experience in group counselling and working with stroke patients. It is provided to groups of four stroke patients living at home (stroke ≥2 months ago) and their partners. The main features are (1) proactive action planning as the main constituent, (2) stroke-specific elements and (3) considering partners as full participants. Discussion: This stroke-specific intervention is expected to increase the use of proactive action planning and thus improve the participation of stroke patients and their partners. It is innovative in its aim to change behaviour patterns of participants directly, teaching participants a general action planning strategy and considering partners as full participants with their own goals and opportunities.

Turning the tables

Purpose – Drawing on proactive coping theory, the authors aimed to test the mitigating effects of proactive personality on the relationships between work-to-family conflict and both work-related outcomes (i.e. career satisfaction and social network) and nonwork-related outcomes (i.e. life satisfaction and personal growth). Design/methodology/approach – To increase the heterogeneity of sample, undergraduate students in a private university were randomly invited and then requested to invite any one of their parents, who had a full time job currently, to participate in the study. Sample size was 204, with a response rate of 75.56 percent. Findings – As predicted, results showed that, for those who had a high level of proactive personality, the influences of work-to-family conflict on both work- and nonwork-related outcomes were all significantly mitigated, as compared with those who had a low level of proactive personality. Originality/value – In this paper, the authors initiated a new insight into work-family interface research by advocating that individuals may “transfer” or reallocate their resources across the work and family domains. They labeled this phenomenon as work-family reallocation, which was supposedly to be differentiated from the prevailing concepts of either work-family conflict or work-family facilitation.

Turning the Tables: The Mitigating Effects of Proactive Personality on Work-to-Family Conflict

Drawing upon proactive coping theory, we tested the mitigating effects of proactive personality on the relationships between work-to-family conflict and both work-related outcomes (i.e., career satisfaction and social network) and nonwork-related outcomes (i.e., life satisfaction and personal growth). Participants were 204 married, working people in Hong Kong. As predicted, results showed that, for those who had a high level of proactive personality, the influences of work-to-family conflict on both work- and nonwork-related outcomes were all significantly mitigated, as compared with those who had a low level of proactive personality. Implications and limitations of this study and future research directions were discussed.

Residential Relocation in Later Life: A Comparison of Proactive and Reactive Moves

Proactive coping involves anticipating future events or stressors and preparing for them in advance. Housing is an important consideration in preparing for later life. This study examines residential relocation among older adults, comparing those who moved proactively with those who moved reactively. Data from the Longitudinal Study of Aging included a final sample of individuals who had relocated at Wave 2 (n = 736) and Wave 3 (n = 713). The proactive group of movers was younger, more educated, and had higher incomes. Results provide support for proactive coping theory and its application to residential relocation in later life.

Identifying and applying psychological theory to setting and achieving rehabilitation goals

Background: Goal setting is considered to be a fundamental part of rehabilitation; however, theories of behaviour change relevant to goal-setting practice have not been comprehensively reviewed. Objectives: (i) To identify and discuss specific theories of behaviour change relevant to goal-setting practice in the rehabilitation setting. (ii) To identify `candidate' theories that that offer most potential to inform clinical practice. Methods: The rehabilitation and self-management literature was systematically searched to identify review papers or empirical studies that proposed a specific theory of behaviour change relevant to setting and/or achieving goals in a clinical context. Data from included papers were extracted under the headings of: key constructs, clinical application and empirical support. Results: Twenty-four papers were included in the review which proposed a total of five theories: (i) social cognitive theory, (ii) goal setting theory, (iii) health action process approach, (iv) proactive coping theory, and (v) the self-regulatory model of illness behaviour. The first three of these theories demonstrated most potential to inform clinical practice, on the basis of their capacity to inform interventions that resulted in improved patient outcomes. Conclusions: Social cognitive theory, goal setting theory and the health action process approach are theories of behaviour change that can inform clinicians in the process of setting and achieving goals in the rehabilitation setting. Overlapping constructs within these theories have been identified, and can be applied in clinical practice through the development and evaluation of a goal-setting practice framework.

Effects of a short self-management intervention for patients with asthma and diabetes: Evaluating health-related quality of life using then-test methodology

Despite intensive outpatient care and optimized medical treatment, some patients with chronic illnesses experience prolonged difficulties in the self-management of their illness and fail to attain optimal disease control. The present study describes the effects of an intervention programme aimed at improving self-management and quality of life among patients with asthma and diabetes. The intervention was based on insights from self-regulation theory and proactive coping theory. Patients with asthma (N = 70) and diabetes (N = 55) were randomly assigned to an intervention group or control group (standard care). In addition to a conventional pre-test–post-test–follow-up design, the then-test methodology was employed to examine the effects on quality of life. The present study showed no intervention effects on self-efficacy, self-care activities or proactive coping. The same was true for quality of life when measured with the conventional design. However, positive intervention effects for asthma patients were found on global quality of life and physical health when measured with the then-test procedure. These results accentuate the value of including then-tests when measuring intervention outcomes. Additional subgroup analyses showed that patients who scored relatively high on optimism at baseline, benefited more from the intervention than did patients who scored relatively low on optimism.

Effects of an Intervention Promoting Proactive Coping Competencies in Middle and Late Adulthood

We tested the effectiveness of a brief educational program that is based on proactive coping theory. The program entails a four-session group intervention for people aged between 50 and 75 years and was intended to improve proactive coping competencies. Furthermore, we investigated the positive as well as negative side effects and differential effectiveness of the program. A total of 158 middle aged and older men and women participated in the study. In a prospective randomized control trial with an experimental group and a waiting control group, we collected questionnaire data at three points (baseline, after completion of the program, and 3 months postintervention). The program improved proactive coping competencies significantly. Three months after completion of the intervention, these results remained stable. Nearly all effect sizes in the experimental group were medium or higher. The program did not have negative side effects in terms of worrying or negative mood, and it did not change levels of self-efficacy. Demographic characteristics of participants did not predict changes in proactive competencies. Differential effectiveness could only be shown for a few psychological characteristics: Lower levels of well-being, higher levels of proactive orientation, and lower levels in the consideration of future consequences of one's own behavior predicted an increase in proactive coping competencies. Participants who formulated personal goals in concrete terms also profited more from the intervention. Conceptualizing proactive coping as a set of competencies allows the translation of this approach into interventions. Competencies that facilitate future-oriented self-regulation can be improved by a brief educational program in middle and late adulthood.

Coping With Psychosis

One important way in which persons with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, can influence the recovery process is by coping with the profoundly negative effects of mental illness. Despite accumulating evidence on the active role of the person in his or her recovery, there remains much conceptual confusion regarding the nature and categorization of the concept of coping. The present article constructs a clinically useful framework of coping that describes parallel and consecutive types of coping processes by applying Schwarzer's proactive coping theory to severe mental illness. Four coping modes including reactive, anticipatory, preventive, and proactive are described, and the role of meaning making is elaborated on as an integrative framework. Future research can be directed at validating the presented model and investigating the relationship between these types of coping and other relevant dimensions such as symptoms, functioning, and recovery.

Preparing for aging: Development, feasibility and preliminary results of an educational program for midlife and older based on proactive coping theory

Objectives This article describes the development, content, feasibility and first results of a short educational program for preparing for aging, based on the process model of proactive coping [Aspinwall LG, Taylor SE. A stitch in time: self regulation and proactive coping. Psychol Bull 1997; 121: 417–36]. The aim of the program is to increase proactive competencies and improve proactive orientations and behaviour. The program consists of four-weekly meetings with 8–10 participants and is given by trainers of about the same age as the participants. Methods Sixty-eight persons ( M = 61.4 years) participated in the program. Feasibility included attendance, participants evaluations of the meetings and the applicability of the used techniques. Proactive coping was measured as proactive orientation, behaviour and competencies. Results The program received positive evaluations, the attendance rate was very satisfying, and the applicability of the used techniques have been shown. Regarding the technique of mental simulation, improvements were suggested. We found gender differences concerning feasibility: women evaluated the program to be easier and reported to have profited more from mental simulation. Preliminary results of proximal outcome variables showed significant changes in proactive competencies, but no changes in proactive behaviour and proactive orientation. Conclusions The educational program “In anticipation of the golden years” is a theoretical based minimal intervention which is highly feasible and effective in improving proactive competencies.