Problem-focused Coping Skills Research Articles

The relationship of depression, anxiety, and stress with pregnancy symptoms and coping styles in pregnant women: A multi-group structural equation modeling analysis

BackgroundThe changes during pregnancy can increase susceptibility to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and stress, which is why coping strategies are so important. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between depression, anxiety, stress, pregnancy symptoms and coping styles in pregnant women across trimesters, using a multigroup structural equation model. MethodsThis cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted with 301 pregnant women who applied to the prenatal clinic of a state university's medical faculty. A hypothetical model was created based on transactional stress and coping theory and literature reviews. Data were collected using a participant information form, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Pregnancy Symptom Inventory and the Stress Coping Styles Scale. ResultsAmong pregnant women, 40.9 % had symptoms of stress, 52.8 % of anxiety and 37.2 % of depression. Pregnancy symptoms and emotion-focused coping are positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress (β = 0.468–0.590; β = 0.222–0.373 respectively). Problem-focused coping is negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. (β = -0.255:-0.389). Problem-focused coping is negatively associated with pregnancy symptoms in the whole sample (β = -0.121) and in the third trimester (β = -0.124). The model explained 51 % of the variance in the 1st, 42 % in the 2nd, and 64 % in the 3rd trimesters. ConclusionThis study showed that problem-focused coping strategies are negatively associated with depression, anxiety and stress and play an important protective role in this context. These findings contribute to understanding the factors affecting mental health during pregnancy and emphasize the importance of developing problem-focused coping skills for pregnant women.

Navigating Wellbeing and Coping: Quantitative Analysis of The Experiences of Teenager of Infidel Parents in Ibadan

Infidelity has a pervasive impact on social systems, but none is more affected than the nuclear family. However, existing studies have not explicitly focused on the experience of teenagers in low and middle-income countries like Nigeria. Hence, this study explored the psychosocial wellbeing and coping mechanism of teenagers with infidel parents in Ibadan. The study used descriptive survey research; 200 teenagers were selected through purposive sampling technique in secondary schools in Ibadan metropolis. A validated questionnaire (parental Infidelity, and psychosocial Wellbeing Questionnaire) was used. Data was analyzed at 0.05 level of significance, using inferential statistics. The study indicated that parental infidelity negatively affects the psychosocial wellbeing of teenagers in Ibadan Metropolis (F (2/196) = 26.3 < 0.05); the multiple regression indicates that coping skills such as problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidant coping affects wellbeing of teenagers who have experienced parental infidelity in Ibadan Metropolis (P< 0.05). In conclusion, children experiencing parental infidelity utilize problem-focused coping skills, while there was a negative wellbeing among teenage from infidel parents. Hence, social workers should help teenagers with infidel parents to cope while navigating live stressors through innovative social work skills.

Coping Styles with Stress in Nursing and Midwifery Students

In the present year, attention has been paid to the nursing and midwifery students, especially when it comes to stress and coping strategies. Understanding the coping styles offered by students enables college officials to become aware of the needs of their pupils, the guidelines, and the training of their counterparts. This study aimed to systematically review on coping with stress in nursing and midwifery students was done. Data searches were conducted using stress keywords, coping styles, and nursing and midwifery students. The sites under study were database of Iranian Medical Sciences Articles (IranMedex), Scientific Database (SID) Pub Med, Mag Iran,, Scopus. The search of the above mentioned database was carried out from July to September 2019.Nineteen studies were studied with the aim of investigating the relationship between stress and aggression in nursing and midwifery students. Finally, the types of coping styles in nursing and midwifery students were examined in three areas of problem-centered, emotion-focused and avoidant. In general, the use of emotion-focused styles was more than problem-focused responses, while the use of such styles had a transient role in reducing stress. Therefore, it is suggested that educational managers and planners consider promoting problem-focused coping skills in students.

Predictors of change in mothers' and fathers' parent-child aggression risk.

Parents' cognitive schemas about parenting, personal vulnerabilities, and personal resources may affect their risk of engaging in parent-child aggression (PCA). This longitudinal study examined predictors of change in mothers' and fathers' PCA risk across the transition to parenthood, comparing trajectories of parents evidencing high versus low sociodemographic risk. Potential predictors involved parenting-relevant schemas (consistent with Social Information Processing theory, including approval of PCA, negative attributions of child behavior, and knowledge of nonphysical discipline options), personal vulnerabilities (psychopathology, intimate partner violence, substance use issues), and resources (problem-focused coping, emotion regulation, social support, and partner satisfaction). Results indicated that increases in PCA approval, negative child behavior attributions, and symptoms of psychopathology, as well as decreases in problem-focused coping skills, emotion regulation ability, and partner satisfaction, all significantly predicted changes in mothers' and fathers' PCA risk over time-regardless of risk group status. Notably, increases in intimate partner violence victimization and decreases in social support satisfaction predicted mothers' but not fathers' PCA risk change; moreover, increases in knowledge of nonphysical discipline alternatives or in substance use issues did not predict change in PCA risk for either mothers or fathers. Risk groups differed in PCA risk across all predictors with minimal evidence of differential trajectories. Overall, these findings have important implications for child abuse prevention programs involving both universal and secondary abuse prevention efforts.

Abusive supervision and job-oriented constructive deviance in the hotel industry

PurposeDrawing on activation theory, this paper aims to examine the process through which abusive supervision influences job-oriented constructive deviance (JCD) in the hospitality industry.Design/methodology/approachData are collected from 198 employees working with 34 supervisors, at three time points across four hotel groups in Macau. The instantaneous indirect effect and moderated curvilinear effect using established measures are tested.FindingsFirst, abusive supervision was positively associated with hotel employees’ job dissatisfaction and their job dissatisfaction had an inverted curvilinear effect on JCD. Second, job dissatisfaction nonlinearly mediated the impact of abusive supervision on JCD. Third, high problem-focused coping decelerated the diminishing benefits of job dissatisfaction on JCD.Practical implicationsFirst, organizations should accept employees’ constructive deviance but suppress managers’ abusive supervision. Second, organizations need to improve employees’ problem-focused coping skills and channel job dissatisfaction into constructive and active behaviors.Originality/valueTheoretically, the authors test a nonlinearly mediating and moderated curvilinear model and address the research concern on whether, why and how service employees decide to engage in positive deviant behaviors when encountering abusive supervision. Practically, the authors avoid concluding that moderate levels of abusive supervision can promote positive employee behaviors and refrain from justification of abusive supervision in the hospitality context.

Predicting Posttraumatic Growth Based on Coping Strategies in Women and Men Involving with Advanced Cancer

BackgroundLots of research has been dedicated to negative consequences of cancer, but few probably studied personal growth and self-enhancement and its related variables after experiencing this disease. The aim of this research was to predict posttraumatic growth based on coping strategies and gender in patients with cancer.MethodsUsing a correlational method and a questionnaire tool, 120 patients (65 females and 55 males, mean age 47 ± 14.72) were selected among hospitalized patients in Firouzgar, Ayatollah Taleghani and Rasoul Akram hospitals in Tehran. They completed post traumatic growth inventory (PTGI) and coping responses inventory (CRI). Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, correlation tests and multiple linear regression were used for data analysis by SPSS version 20.ResultsFindings indicated that among problem-oriented coping strategies, cognitive assessment and seeking social support explains 53% of PTG changes (P 0.05).ConclusionsResults showed that problem-oriented strategies especially re-evaluation can support the patients to strive to re-conceptualize their experience and make it easier to deal with. In this regard, clinical interventions such as training problem-focused coping skills and facilitating measures to provide social support may also be helpful.

Relationships between Sexual Behaviors and Psychosocial Variables among Junior High School Students in Shanghai, China

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the prevalence and influential factors of sexual behaviors among Chinese junior high school students using the validated measures and research methods employed in the Japanese study for the purpose of developing an effective sex education program to prevent premature sexual behaviors among Chinese junior high school students. Methods: The study sample was comprised of 681 students from the seventh to the ninth grade of five junior high schools in Shanghai, China. The data were collected in October 2011, using anonymous and self-administered questionnaires. Results: For the experience of kissing, there was no gender difference. For sexual intercourse, it was found that there was a gender difference, showing that the percentage of males who had ever experienced sexual intercourse was higher than that of females. According to the results of univariate analysis, significant relationships were found between the experience of ever kissing and cigarette smoking for males and alcohol drinking for both genders, showing that students with the experience of kissing were more likely to smoke and drink in the past month than those with no experience of kissing. In regard to social skills, students with the experience of kissing showed higher scores on aggressive behavior compared to those with no experience of kissing for females. In regard to stress coping skills, students with the experience of kissing showed higher scores on behavioral avoidance for males and distraction for females compared to those with no experience of kissing. In regard to psychosocial variables concerning sexual intercourse, students with the experience of kissing tended to have stronger behavioral intention about sexual intercourse while in their teen years and to have more positive attitudes toward sexual intercourse before marriage compared to those with no experience of kissing for both genders. According to the results of the multivariate analysis, male students who had drunk alcohol in the past month, had higher scores in behavioral avoidance of stress coping skills and had strong behavioral intention about sexual intercourse, and female students who had drunk alcohol in the past month, had higher scores in distraction of stress coping skills and recognized that their friends had experiences of sexual intercourse were likely to experience kissing. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that educational contents related to the prevention of alcohol drinking, the enhancement of problem-focused coping skills and the decrease of behavioral intention about sexual intercourse should be included in sex education for preventing premature sexual behaviors among Chinese junior high school students.

Determining the quality of life of depressed patients in Singapore through a multiple mediation framework.

Quality of Life (QOL) is reported to be lower for patients with depression than the general population. This study aims to investigate the mediational effects of protective resource factors (PSFs), such as depressive symptom management ability, self-efficacy, social support and problem-focused coping act, in the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and QOL. It is hypothesized that these PSFs have different mediating strengths. Self-report questionnaires which aimed to determine the influences of these PSFs through a multiple mediation framework were completed by 80 depressed adult outpatients from the National University Hospital of Singapore. PSFs have different influence on mental and physical QOL. Depressive symptom management ability is the most important PSF mediating both domains and better problem-focused coping abilities demonstrate improvement in the physical domain of QOL. Self-efficacy and social support are shown to be non-significant mediators. The results suggest for future effective interventions to focus primarily on improving depression patients' symptom management ability and problem-focused coping skills to raise their life quality. Furthermore, findings from this study have implications on the future investigation of QOL as a unitary construct.

Latino caregiver psychosocial factors and health care services for children involved in the child welfare system

Children in the child welfare system have a high prevalence of health problems, making pediatric health service use critical. Latino children represent a growing proportion of the child welfare system, and are at increased risk for health problems. Many have argued that Latino caregivers can provide Latino children with the least disruptive out-of-home placement, but little is known about how caregiver factors might relate to health services utilization or child health status within this population. This study assessed relationships between caregiver psychosocial factors, health care service utilization, and health status for children in the child welfare system. This sample featured 48 Latino caregivers involved in child welfare. Logistic regression models were used to test for relationships between caregiver psychosocial factors and appointment adherence and child health status. Problem-focused coping was positively related to well-child status. No psychosocial factors were related to medical appointment adherence. Case workers may help improve child health outcomes by promoting problem-focused coping skills among Latino caregivers.

Understanding self care coping styles in patients with chronic heart failure: A systematic review.

Physical and psychological self care coping styles affect the quality of life among patients with heart failure. Understanding coping styles and related factors is important. 1) To understand coping involved with self care of physical and psychological aspects in chronic heart failure patients and 2) to understand the associated factors with self care coping. A systemic review of databases PubMed, CINHAL, PsycINFO and Airti Library were searched with key terms: 'heart failure', 'coping' and 'self-care' for the period of January 1984 to October 2013. Twenty-six studies were included. Emotion-focused coping (acceptance and disavowal) and problem-focused coping are positively associated with better physical and psychological self care, whereas an emotional approach with escape avoidance was negatively related to adaptive self care. Enhancing the use of emotion-focused coping with acceptance could facilitate problem-focused coping regarding physical self care (medication and dietary adherence) and reduce adverse drug effects. The associated factors in coping styles of physical and psychological self care included socio-demographic factors, health condition-related factors, patient-related factors and spirituality and religion factors. Emotion-focused coping with acceptance and disavowal, as well as problem-focused coping, may positively influence physical and psychological self care. Health care professionals should accept and allow patients to use emotion-focused coping, then help patients to use problem-focused coping skills. The influencing factors have important roles in individuals' coping styles. There is a lack of experimental and qualitative research to determine how the influencing factors affect self care coping, since this review is primarily of revealed correlational studies.

Protective behavioral strategies mediate problem-focused coping and alcohol use in college students

ObjectiveProtective behavioral strategies have emerged as a construct protective against alcohol use. The current study examines the theoretical associations among general coping styles, protective behavioral strategies, drinking to cope motives, and alcohol use in college students. MethodAnalyses of fully latent variables were conducted using structural equation modeling in a sample of 327 college students. ResultsProtective behavioral strategies partially mediated the association between problem-focused coping and alcohol use. Behaviorally oriented problem-focused coping strategies accounted for the positive relationship between problem-focused coping and protective behavioral strategies whereas cognitively oriented problem-focused coping strategies were associated with less use of protective behavioral strategies and increased alcohol use. ConclusionsThis is the first study to find that protective behavioral strategies are more likely to be used by college students who endorse using a problem-focused coping style, especially if they tend to use behaviorally oriented problem-focused coping strategies. These findings extend the literature on protective behavioral strategies and indicate that students less likely to use problem-focused coping skills to deal with stress in general may need additional interventions to increase their use of protective behavioral strategies.

The effects of avoidance coping and coping self-efficacy on eating disorder attitudes and behaviors: A stress-diathesis model

The present study employed a series of stress-diathesis models to examine whether avoidance coping and poor coping self-efficacy contribute to disordered eating attitudes and behaviors in a sample of college students. The sample included one hundred fifteen undergraduate students (28.7% male; 71.3% female). Participants completed self-report measures to assess daily stressors, coping style, coping self-efficacy, and eating disorder attitudes and behaviors. As predicted, among students with an avoidance coping style, those who reported more daily stressors exhibited higher eating disorder attitudes and behaviors than those with less daily hassles. Contrary to study hypothesis, number of daily hassles did not moderate the association between coping self-efficacy and eating disorder attitudes and behaviors. However, there was a significant main effect for coping self-efficacy, suggesting that students who lack confidence in their coping abilities are more likely to have problematic eating attitudes and behaviors, regardless of their level of daily stress. Clinically, results suggest that students who enter college with an avoidance coping style and poor coping self-efficacy may be at risk for disordered eating, particularly with the onset of associated stress. Teaching students active problem-focused coping skills to deal with daily hassles associated with college life, and providing opportunities for repeated practice to bolster self-efficacy, may help prevent and/or reduce disordered eating attitudes and behaviors.

Examining the Relationship Between Work/Life Conflict and Life Satisfaction in Executives

The Problem Determining “what” and “how” people are satisfied personally and with work has become an ongoing stream of research for both academics and practitioners. Yet research has contributed to confusing the issue and has not been able to provide any distinct answers to this problem. The Solution This study goes beyond current research by examining how problem-focused coping resources are used to ameliorate the negative relationship between work/life conflict and life satisfaction. Based on a sample of 491 executives, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the mediational ability of problem-solving coping. Problem-solving coping was found to partially mediate the negative relationship between work/life conflict and life satisfaction. The Stakeholders Human resource development (HRD) scholars and practitioners interested in researching and reducing work/life conflict. A discussion of the importance of HRD interventions targeting problem-focused coping skills is included.

Alternative therapy use in liver transplant recipients

The extent of use of alternative therapies and the psychosocial variables predictive of their use have not been well defined in liver transplant recipients. To determine types of alternative therapies used by liver transplant recipients and to assess psychosocial, behavioral, and quality of life variables associated with the use of alternative therapies in these patients. Assessment of types of alternative therapies used, demographic characteristics, satisfaction with social support, coping styles, sense of personal control (mastery), quality of life, and health beliefs in 32 liver transplant recipients. Overall, 34.4% of the liver transplant recipients used a form of alternative therapy. Herbal products were used by 45% of the alternative therapy users and included milk thistle (silymarin), eclipta, and green beet leaf-all considered "hepatic tonics". Alternative therapy users tended to have greater problem-focused coping skills than nonusers (P = .08). Nineteen percent of the patients incurred annual out-of-pocket expense of at least dollars 100 for alternative therapies. Patients incurring out-of-pocket expenses reported better overall health (P = .02), were more likely to be employed (P = .025), and had higher mastery scores (P = .01). Use of alternative therapies is common after liver transplantation. Herbal products used by liver transplant recipients are disease specific; that is, they claim to promote liver health.

Alternative Therapy Use in Liver Transplant Recipients

The extent of use of alternative therapies and the psychosocial variables predictive of their use have not been well defined in liver transplant recipients. To determine types of alternative therapies used by liver transplant recipients and to assess psychosocial, behavioral, and quality of life variables associated with the use of alternative therapies in these patients. Assessment of types of alternative therapies used, demographic characteristics, satisfaction with social support, coping styles, sense of personal control (mastery), quality of life, and health beliefs in 32 liver transplant recipients. Overall, 34.4% of the liver transplant recipients used a form of alternative therapy. Herbal products were used by 45% of the alternative therapy users and included milk thistle (silymarin), eclipta, and green beet leaf-all considered "hepatic tonics". Alternative therapy users tended to have greater problem-focused coping skills than nonusers (P = .08). Nineteen percent of the patients incurred annual out-of-pocket expense of at least dollars 100 for alternative therapies. Patients incurring out-of-pocket expenses reported better overall health (P = .02), were more likely to be employed (P = .025), and had higher mastery scores (P = .01). Use of alternative therapies is common after liver transplantation. Herbal products used by liver transplant recipients are disease specific; that is, they claim to promote liver health.

Weight criticism during physical activity, coping skills, and reported physical activity in children.

National health guidelines advocate increased physical activity in children and adolescents, but specific goals are not being achieved. Data are needed on variables that influence children's decision to be active or sedentary. We tested the association of weight criticism during physical activity (WCA) with attitudes toward physical activity and reported physical activity levels in children. We also tested whether these associations were moderated by children's ability to cope with weight criticism. Subjects were 576 fifth- through eighth-graders who completed a questionnaire on physical activity patterns, weight criticism history, and coping skills. WCA was more common among girls than boys and among heavier children. In multiple regression analyses, WCA was associated with reduced sports enjoyment, perceived activity compared with peers, and mild-intensity leisure activity. These associations, however, were moderated by problem-focused coping skills such that the relationships were attenuated in children who were better able to cope with weight criticism. Avoidant coping skills also moderated the relationship between WCA and sports enjoyment. Children who are the targets of weight criticism by family and peers have negative attitudes toward sports and report reduced physical activity levels, although these relationships may be buffered by certain coping skills. Assessing WCA and related coping skills may be clinically useful for identifying barriers to physical activity in certain children (eg, the obese) and may be a potential target for interventions.

Pupil Insights into Bullying, and Coping with Bullying

We report a bi-national study of children's perceptions of bullying and coping with bullying in Japan and England. The study focused especially on the children's opinions about coping strategies for different types of bullying, why victims of bullying often do not/cannot tell others about their being bullied, and what bystanders might do and why bystanders might not help the victims. Two hundred and seven pupils aged 13-14 years from one junior high school in Tokyo and one secondary school in London completed a questionnaire. Bullying (ijime) in Japan was seen as relatively more often characterised by larger groups of bullies, mostly in the same grade and “friends” of the victim, compared to bullying in England which was more often by a smaller number of bullies, often from a higher grade, and often not friends of the victim. Children of both countries were found to have a certain idea of coping strategies for different types of bullying. Problem-focused coping skills were considered more useful than emotion-focused coping skills. Most victims were, however, thought not to be able to actually use these coping skills, but too often do nothing and put up with it because of the fear of the bullying getting worse or of having not enough support from others. Pupils seemed to think they should actively intervene to help victims; however, most bystanders were actually thought to try not to be involved because of the fear of getting attacked by the bullies or of becoming the new target of bullying. Some national and gender differences were also examined.

Are reported stress and coping style associated with frequent recurrence of genital herpes?

OBJECTIVES: This paper reports on the cross sectional data from the longitudinal study examining the impact of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection on quality of life. In particular the...

Verbal abuse of staff nurses by physicians

The prevalence and consequences of verbal abuse of staff nurses by physicians were examined in the context of Lazarus' stress-coping model. Of the 130 staff nurses completing a mailed Verbal Abuse Questionnaire, 90 per cent reported experiencing at least one episode of verbal abuse during the past year. The average number of reported incidents during the year was between 6 and 12. The most frequent and most stressful types of verbal abuse came in the forms of abusive anger, ignoring, and condescension. Nurses tended to interpret the abuse in an adaptive fashion, eg, they viewed the abusing physician as someone with a problem and perceived themselves as not deserving the abuse. They used a variety of adaptive palliative as well as problem-focused coping skills. The most severe long-term effects of verbal abuse were a negative relationship with the offending physician and negative effects on job satisfaction. These findings show clearly that verbal abuse of nurses by physicians continues to exist and is associated with negative consequences on their personal as well as professional well-being. Nurse and physician educators as well as nurse administrators must address this problem through educational activities as well as protective hospital policies.

Verbal abuse of staff nurses by physicians.

The prevalence and consequences of verbal abuse of staff nurses by physicians were examined in the context of Lazarus' stress-coping model. Of the 130 staff nurses completing a mailed Verbal Abuse Questionnaire, 90 per cent reported experiencing at least one episode of verbal abuse during the past year. The average number of reported incidents during the year was between 6 and 12. The most frequent and most stressful types of verbal abuse came in the forms of abusive anger, ignoring, and condescension. Nurses tended to interpret the abuse in an adaptive fashion, e.g., they viewed the abusing physician as someone with a problem and perceived themselves as not deserving the abuse. They used a variety of adaptive palliative as well as problem-focused coping skills. The most severe long-term effects of verbal abuse were a negative relationship with the offending physician and negative effects on job satisfaction. These findings show clearly that verbal abuse of nurses by physicians continues to exist and is associated with negative consequences on their personal as well as professional well-being. Nurse and physician educators as well as nurse administrators must address this problem through educational activities as well as protective hospital policies.