Social Support Coping Strategies Research Articles

Личностные особенности студентов с разным уровнем психологического благополучия

The article presents the study of personality traits of psychological wellbeing of students in the 2022/23 academic year (during Russia’s Special Military operation). The study has revealed that only a small part of the students in the sampling had a high level of psychological wellbeing, and almost a third of them had a low level of psychological wellbeing. The study has found significant differences among the students with various subjective indices of psychological wellbeing. Correlations between integral indices of psychological wellbeing and students’ personality traits have been found. The following predictors of psychological wellbeing have been revealed: emotional instability, external locus of control, avoidance coping strategy (they predict the decrease of psychological wellbeing), and extraversion, self-control, expressiveness, seeking social support coping strategy (they predict the increase of psychological wellbeing).

Türk Kadınlarında Meme Kanseri ile Başa Çıkma, Pozitif Büyüme ve Sosyal Desteğin İncelenmesi

The study aimed to explore the role of social support, coping strategies in fostering positive growth among Turkish women with breast cancer, utilizing a cross-sectional design. Involving 188 women from three hospital centers in Türkiye the research employed standardized measures such as The Ways of Coping Inventory and the Stress Related Growth Scale, alongside collecting socio-demographic and medical information. The results revealed significant positive correlations between social support, problem-solving, religious coping, and seeking social support coping strategies with positive growth (ps < 0.05). Conversely, helplessness coping strategies were inversely correlated with positive growth (ps < 0.05). Furthermore, multivariate analysis indicated that 61.2% of the positive growth score could be attributed to variables such as the stage of cancer, marital status, social support, problem-solving coping, and religious coping. The perceived availability of emotional support, particularly in the context of benefit finding, plays a crucial role in the patients' emotional adjustment. Conclusively, the findings suggest that enhancing social support, problem-solving, and religious coping could significantly improve the outcomes for Turkish women dealing with breast cancer. This research underscores the need for improvements in healthcare policies, support systems, and educational programs, proposing that such interventions should be integrated into healthcare services to effectively contribute to the positive growth of breast cancer patients.

The impact of the war in Ukraine on the psychological well-being of students

Background and Aim of Study: The war in Ukraine affects the psychological state and life activities of university students. Aim of the study: to identify the state of psychological well-being of students and the peculiarities of students’ use of coping strategies in overcoming life crises on their own. Material and Methods: The study was conducted among 323 Ukrainian university students aged 20-35 in October 2023. According to the impact of the hostilities on them, the respondents were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 – 111 persons living in the area of active hostilities; Group 2 – 104 persons living in the areas where missiles and drones were fired; Group 3 – 108 persons living on the territory of Ukraine, where there were no hostilities and shelling, and in the EU countries. The Psychological General Well-Being Index, PGWBI, and the Coping Strategies Inventory, CSI, were included in an online survey. Both techniques were found to have adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha was 0.928 and 0.759, respectively). Results: Respondents in all groups are moderately distressed. The highest level of distress (the lowest level of PGWBI) was found among students in Group 1 (55.1 points). Students in Groups 2 and 3 had lower scores (60.1 and 63.5 points, respectively), which corresponds to moderate distress. Students use a variety of coping strategies in stressful situations. However, the coping strategy of cognitive restructuring was used more often (9.8 points in Group 3, 9.5 points in Group 1). This was due to a general rethinking of the meaning of life, of attitudes toward oneself and others because of the war. Coping strategies of social support (8.9 points) and self-criticism (8.7 points) were also important for Group 1. This was due to the importance of social support, reassessment of one’s own behavior and thinking in the war. Conclusions: The obtained data indicate that the war in Ukraine has a negative impact on the psychological state of students. The level of impact was higher the closer the students were to the active combat zone. This influence determined the students' choice of coping strategies in dealing with life crises on their own.

Inspired in Adversity: How Inspiration Mediates the Effects of Emotions on Coping Strategies.

Inspiration is a psychological construct that has been relatively understudied in times of difficulty. This study aims to investigate the mediating effect of inspiration on the relationship between emotions and coping strategies in the context of adversity and to testify the effect in Chinese as well as the International societies. Using the snowball sampling method, two survey studies were conducted among 523 Chinese and 503 international participants during and soon after the local Covid-19 outbreak to testify how positive and negative emotions contributed to various coping strategies and whether the experience of inspiration mediated these relations. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data. Positive emotions had a higher impact on problem-solving and seeking social support coping strategies, whereas negative emotions had a higher impact on avoidance coping strategy. Both positive and negative emotions had positive relationships with inspiration, but positive emotions had a higher impact than negative ones. The indirect effects of emotions on problem-solving and social support coping strategies through inspiration were significantly positive, while the avoidance coping strategy was not influenced by the experience of inspiration. The results suggest that being inspired in both positive and negative emotions is positively related to approach coping strategies in adverse situations such as COVID-19, with the effect patterns slightly differing between Chinese participants and their Western counterparts. This study highlights the importance of inspiration experience as a motivational state that can help individuals bring newly acquired ideas into fruition, especially during times of difficulty. By understanding the role of inspiration in the context of adversity, public health systems can better assist individuals in different societies to cope with the challenges they face.

Changes in mothers’ and fathers’ stress level, mental health and coping strategies during the 3 years following ASD diagnosis

BackgroundASD in a child affects parental mental health, with elevated levels of stress, anxiety and depression reported in parents. MethodIn this study, we examined mothers' and fathers' stress, anxiety and depression, as well as their coping strategies in a sample of 103 children and adolescents enrolled in the ELENA cohort study in France at diagnosis and three years after diagnosis. ResultsResults showed that mothers had higher levels of stress and anxiety / depression than fathers and used more social support coping strategies at diagnosis, which might be explained by increased levels of parental involvement. Mothers’ stress level significantly decreased during the three years following ASD diagnosis but no such decrease was observed in fathers’ stress level. A significant decrease in anxiety and depression was observed for both parents, suggesting that parental distress is particularly elevated during the critical diagnosis period. Results finally yielded a significant decrease in emotion-focused coping strategy in mothers over the three-year period, an ineffective strategy that takes places at the time of diagnosis but then decreases during the period following ASD diagnosis, in relation to the acceptance process. ConclusionsImplications in terms of addressing the unmet mental health needs of parents and their coping strategies are discussed.

COVID-19 Anxiety and Washing Obsessive-compulsive Symptoms: Stress Coping Styles as a Mediator

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on people's psychological functioning, including how the cope with anxiety. This study aimed to assess the role of coping styles on the relationship of COVID-19 anxiety and Washing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (W-OCD) symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 420 people living in Kashan city (Iran) from March to April 2020. Participants were selected by the convenience sampling method due to the difficulties brought about by COVID-19 and completed the contamination subscale of Padua Inventory, Covid-19 anxiety inventory, and coping strategies scale. Data was analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS- 22. Results: The results revealed that emotion focused, somatization and social support coping strategies were significantly associated with W-OCD symptoms. Also, there was a significant correlation between the Covid-19 anxiety with the W-OCD symptoms. SEM result revealed that emotion focused and somatization coping strategies positively mediated the relationship between COVID-19 and W-OCD symptoms. Conclusion: Emotion focused and somatization coping strategies increase W-OCD symptoms following COVID-19 anxiety. Psycho education interventions addressing COVID-19's physical and psychological impacts on health, discriminating the rational and adaptive behavior and obsessive and compulsive behaviors, restricting the information gathering from numerous sources which may lead to increased negative emotions might be helpful.

Stress and coping strategies of families of pediatric solid organ transplant recipients in times of pandemic.

Pediatric solid organ transplantation (SOT) is a chronic condition that impacts the whole family system. The objective of this study is to evaluate psychopathology, family stress, and coping strategies in families of SOT recipients compared to families of healthy children and adolescents. Moreover, it analyzes if the stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic has had an additional impact on these families. The sample was recruited between May and July 2021, during the fourth and fifth wave of the pandemic in Spain. It consisted of 102 families, 51 with a pediatric recipient who had undergone a SOT (liver, kidney, heart, or lung) and 51 healthy controls, matched by child age and gender. A primary caregiver from each family answered an online sociodemographic questionnaire and different tests to evaluate family stress, depression, anxiety, coping strategies, and effects of the pandemic on the family. Caregivers were mostly mothers (89.2%). Families of SOT recipients showed greater anxiety (U = 863.5, p = 0.003) and more total stress, stress related to childcare (t = -2.043; p = 0.045), and parent-child interaction stress (U = 355.5, p = 0.015). SOT families used more avoidance strategies, specifically denial (U = 889.5; p = 0.010) and abandonment of coping efforts (U = 1,013; p = 0.047), more religious strategies (U = 792.5; p = 0.031), and fewer social support coping strategies (t = 2.098; p = 0.038). No differences were found between groups in terms of exposure, impact, and distress more than 1 year after the start of the pandemic. SOT families showed clinical levels of anxiety, more parent-child interaction stress, more difficulties in taking care of their child, more avoidance and religious strategies, and less use of social support strategies, even 4 years after transplantation. The pandemic did not have an additional differential effect on SOT families. Caregivers of SOT patients can benefit from psychological interventions focused on parents' mental health, parent-child connectedness, skill building, and social support aid groups, with attention to multiculturalism and promoting a better balance between caregivers. There is a need for family interventions that are maintained over time. Strategies that offer this support to families through digital resources can facilitate adjustment to chronic illness, especially in pandemic times.

Relationship between Self-Esteem and Stress Coping Strategies among Internship Nursing Students

BACKGROUND: Self-esteem is an essential personality trait in nursing professionals and nursing students need to have a high self-esteem and effective coping strategies to be successful in their future career. AIM: This study aimed to assess the relationship between the level of self-esteem and the stress coping strategies, used by internship nursing students (intern-nurses), at the completion of their internship training. METHODS: A descriptive correlational cross-sectional design was used to measure self-esteem and identify the stress coping strategies of intern-nurses at Alexandria University. Data were collected with a self-administered questionnaire, including the Rosenberg self-esteem scale and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief COPE). The questionnaire was distributed to all intern-nurses (273 intern-nurses) during their last rotation in the internship training. In total, 150 completed the survey, resulting in 54.9% response rate. SPSS software was used for the analysis. RESULTS: In total, 150 intern-nurses participated in the study. The majority of the sample had a moderate to high self-esteem, and the mean total self-esteem was 29.21/40 ± 4.44. The most frequently used coping strategy was problem-solving, followed by social support, positive thinking, and lastly an avoidance coping strategy. There was a positive correlation between self-esteem with both the problem-solving and social support coping strategies. However, there was a negative correlation between the self-esteem score and the avoidance coping strategy. CONCLUSION: The majority of the sample had a moderate to high self-esteem and they use problem-solving and social support coping strategies to manage stress. Intern-nurses with a high self-esteem cope positively and effectively with stress. Conversely, intern-nurses with a low self-esteem cope negatively with stress. Counseling and stress intervention programs are essential to promote nursing students self-esteem and assist them to develop positive and active stress coping strategies.

UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COPING STYLES AND DEATH ANXIETY IN OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Research suggests that death anxiety stems from fear of pain, worry about loved ones, and uncertainty about what comes after death. Understanding the relationship between coping styles and attitudes towards death in older adults may help identify individuals who need support with death anxiety. This study explored the relationships between coping styles (active, disengaged, social) and death anxiety (fear, avoidance). We used the Death Attitude Profile Revised and three subscales from the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) Inventory. We conducted linear regressions to determine which coping styles were associated with fear of death and death avoidance. In post-hoc analyses, we investigated the role of spirituality-based coping as a two-item subscale from the active coping scale. All models controlled for age, sex, marital and educational status. The sample included 87 community-dwelling older adults (Mage=72.72 (SD=5.88); 56.32% female; 86.21% White). Higher levels of disengaged coping were significantly associated with greater fear of death and death avoidance (p < .05). Use of social support coping was significantly associated with less fear of death (β = -.10, p < .05). Spirituality-focused coping was associated with lower death avoidance (p < .05). Disengaged coping may indicate higher death anxiety, whereas spirituality and social support coping strategies may indicate lower death anxiety. Our findings have implications for identifying individuals in need of extra support during critical points in the healthcare process. They may also inform design and implementation of psychosocial interventions for communication about healthcare goals in the context of serious or terminal illness.

Parental Attachment and Satisfaction With Social Life: The Mediating Role of Gelotophobia.

The aim of the present study was to investigate how gelotophobia is related to secure parental attachment, the degree of satisfaction with social life and coping strategies in a non-clinical sample of young Spanish adults. the sample consisted of 306 young Spanish adults (M= 21.4 years; SD= 2.27; 67.6% women). The relationships between the study variables were analysed and a mediation model was tested in which gelotophobia (M) mediated the relationship between secure parental attachment (IV) and the level of satisfaction with social life (DV). a satisfactory social life was related with low levels of gelotophobia and high levels of secure attachment to the father, as well as with the use of positive coping strategies of control and social support. Secure attachment to the father was positively associated with coping strategies focused on seeking social support and negatively associated with gelotophobia. High levels of secure attachment to the father are related to higher life satisfaction mediated by low levels of gelotophobia.

Leisure Types, Coping, Happiness, and Life Satisfaction among Veterans

Objectives: Our purpose was to investigate the relationships between leisure types and coping, happiness, and life satisfaction among veterans. Methods: Our sample was 106 veterans. We used hierarchical multiple regression analysis to examine the relationships of the previously identified variables. Demographic variables were entered into the first block of the regression model, and all the demographic variables and types of leisure activities were then entered into the second block. Results: Age, disability status, sports, and volunteer activities were positively associated with the problem-solving coping strategy. Only outdoor activities were positively related to the social support coping strategy. Home-based activities were positively associated with the avoidance coping strategy. Disability status, outdoor activities, and social activities were positively associated with life satisfaction. Age and social activities were positively associated with happiness. Conclusions: Overall, participation in social and outdoor activities was positively associated with active coping, social-seeking coping, life satisfaction, and happiness. This finding supports the literature on leisure and health, suggesting the value of leisure activities as an effective coping strategy and a positive influence on the mental health of veterans.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Black College Students' Mental Health

COVID-19 has had a deleterious impact on both the Black community and college students. Studies on this topic have taken a general approach and thus do not consider how the effects of the pandemic are distinct and potentially exacerbated among subgroups of students. The current study addressed this gap in the literature by examining the psychological impact of COVID-19 on Black college students. A sample of Black college students (Mage = 20.09) was interviewed and asked to describe their emotional reactions to COVID-19 and their coping processes in response to the pandemic. Interview data were analyzed using a consensual qualitative research approach (Hill et al., 1997, 2005). Findings showed that a majority of students had a negative emotional reaction to the pandemic (e.g., low mood and stress), and a small subset of students had a positive emotional reaction (e.g., emotional growth). In addition, students tended to cope with the pandemic most commonly via engagement (e.g., positive reframing) and social support coping strategies. We discuss the implications of our findings and offer recommendations for how institutions may better support Black college students' mental health in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.

Difficulties Experienced by Turkish Parents With Children in Pediatric Palliative Care: An Exploratory Qualitative Study.

We aimed to identify the difficulties of the parents of pediatric palliative care patients and how they cope with these problems in this qualitative study in Turkey. This study was carried out with 20 parents by in-depth interviews. Content analysis was used for data analysis. Four themes were identified: The problems in the process of acceptance, the difficulties of being at the hospital, the expectations from the health staff, the coping strategies. The families had difficulties in coping with the end-of-life of their children. Future researches may focus on the effectiveness of family-centered care and the experience of parents with its implementation. The findings suggest that social support resources and coping strategies can play an important role in the acceptance of the child's disease process and maintenance of palliative care effectively.

Social Support Buffers the Effects of Prenatal Depressed Mood: A Mixed-Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Women use various coping strategies to deal with stress and depression. These strategies are shaped by social contexts over the life course and may attenuate and/or exacerbate the physiologic effects of depression. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to determine whether coping strategies (active, disengaged, or social support coping) moderate depression-related diurnal cortisol dysregulation and to explore how social context influences women's use of coping. METHODS: This was a mixed-methods study of pregnant women (N = 65) during mid-pregnancy. Cortisol was measured in saliva collected during the waking hours of the day. Participants completed the Edinburgh Depression Scale and the Brief COPE. A subset of the sample participated in semistructured qualitative interviews (n = 20). RESULTS: Social support coping, but not active or disengaged coping, moderated end-of-day cortisol levels. Among depressed women, higher use of social support was associated with lower and more dynamic (i.e., less flat) diurnal cortisol rhythms. The qualitative findings revealed how complex social dynamics related to financial insecurity, lack of mutuality, and social identity affected women's use of and access to social support. CONCLUSION: These findings support theories of the stress-buffering effects of social support. Future research is needed to examine how social determinants affect access to social support, and how early life social experiences condition women's adaptive formation of social support coping strategies over the life course. Clinically, these findings underscore the value of relationship-centered nursing care for depressed women.

Psychotherapy as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Coping Strategies and Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the development of several risk factors for mental health, not only for people directly infected but also for those experiencing social isolation, loneliness, and concern for their health. The impact of these factors on individuals’ health and well-being also depends on the type of coping strategies adopted. Moreover, one of the main effects of COVID-19 is the increase in the prevalence of people who manifest anxious or depressive syndromes. This study investigates the relationship between coping strategies and a multidimensional assessment of anxiety symptoms measured during the COVID-19 pandemic in people who were having psychotherapy sessions, while participating in the study had psychotherapy sessions (clinical group) and those who have never done them (non-clinical group). The results of a questionnaire administered online to Italian subjects from June to July, 2020 were analyzed through multiple linear regressions methods to evaluate the role of psychotherapy as moderator between anxiety symptoms and coping strategies. The results of this study highlight that there are substantial differences in functioning between the clinical and non-clinical groups, underlying the key role of psychotherapy as a moderator between anxiety and the coping strategies of avoidance, social support, and positive attitude.

Effects of social position and household affordances on COVID-19 lockdown resilience and coping

In France, the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdown measures have created unprecedented circumstances that increase stress and anxiety, thus leading individuals experiencing home confinement to adopt various coping strategies that contribute to building resilience. Given the novelty and recency of the COVID-19 lockdown, factors of coping and resilience in this specific context of home confinement remain undefined. Based on some recent observations, we conducted a study on a convenience sample in France (N = 809) in order to investigate two potential factors of lockdown resilience and coping: social position and household affordances, while also exploring some complementary hypotheses based on the literature. Social position and household affordances were identified as significant predictors of lockdown coping and resilience, and low social position was found to coincide with less social support coping strategies. Results are discussed in relation to the theory and the limits identified in this study. Recommendations are made for potential second waves of COVID-19 spread or similar pandemics in the future.

CÁC YẾU TỐ ẢNH HƯỞNG ĐẾN TRIỆU CHỨNG TRẦM CẢM CỦA NẠN NHÂN BỊ BẮT NẠT TRỰC TUYẾN TRONG SINH VIÊN ĐẠI HỌC VIỆT NAM

The prevalence of cyberbullying victimization among college students tends to increase. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of frequency of cyberbullying victimization, self-esteem, social support and coping strategies on depression symptoms among Vietnamese college students. 606 college students who were victims of cyberbullying completed a questionnaire to evaluate frequency of cyberbullying victimization, level of self-esteem, social support, and frequency of using coping strategies. Results indicated that frequency of cyberbullying victimization and avoidance coping strategies were associated with increase depressive symptoms; meanwhile, social support, self-esteem, and approach coping strategies were associated with decreased depressive symptoms. This research has important implications in developing depression prevention programs for cyberbullying victimization among Vietnamese college students.

Mental Health, Social Support, and Active Coping in Nepali Earthquake Survivors

Research has shown a positive relationship between exposure to natural disasters and common disaster-related mental health disorders. However, much more can be done to fully examine how protective factors such as perceived social support or active coping strategies are related to mental health in the context of natural disasters. This study seeks to examine the relationship between mental disorders and active coping. The article also explores the moderating effect of perceived social support on mental health. Data were collected in August 2016 as part of a longitudinal study on mental health and psychosocial intervention in post-earthquake Nepal ( n = 660). Our independent variables in this study were anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. The dependent variable was active coping. Perceived social support was tested as a potential moderating variable. Ordinary least squares regression analyses were run to examine the relationships between the three mental disorders and active coping. We also tested the moderating effect of perceived social support on the relationships between the three mental disorders and active coping. Ordinary least square analyses found a statistically significant negative relationship between active coping and anxiety (B = −0.137, p < .001), depression (B = −0.116, p < .001), and posttraumatic stress symptoms (B = −0.065, p = .337), controlling for other factors. Perceived social support significantly moderated the associations between active coping and each mental disorder: anxiety (B = 0.012, p < .05), depression (B = 0.017, p < .05), and posttraumatic stress symptoms (B = 0.064, p < .05). Our findings suggest that perceived social support moderates the relationship between common mental disorders and active coping in Nepali earthquake survivors.

An empirical model for understanding the threat responses at the time of COVID-19

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic represents a global challenge which may have pervasive effects in several areas of community and individual life. Consequently, the virus could generate fear and anxiety that must be managed in a new and unknown situation, such as that of lockdown, with potential consequences for mental health outcomes. Therefore, with the theoretical guide of the Polyvagal perspective, this research aimed to analyse the mediation of social support, passive aggression, avoidance and dissociation in the relationship between fear and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: During the national COVID-19 lockdown phase, a sample of 992 Italian participants with a mean age of 35.07 years ( SD = 12.11) completed the Ten Penn State Worry Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory – Form X3, Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced and Forty Item Defense Style Questionnaire, after providing written informed consent. Results: Results showed that fear affected anxiety, both directly and indirectly, highlighting a serial multiple mediation model with two parallel chain of mediators. Social support coping strategy negatively influenced fear and passive aggression, which instead were positively associated. Furthermore, in the second chain, avoidance directly induced fear in the presence of anxiety, opposite of dissociation defense mechanism. Conclusions: Such findings highlighted some possible answers that could be implemented as a consequence of the fear perception during the COVID-19 lockdown, according to the framework of the Polyvagal Theory. These data could provide an important contribution in shedding light on mechanisms put in place during the pandemic, promoting valuable information for a more effective clinical practice.

Coping in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and motor neuron disease: Systematic review.

To systematically review previous studies on the variables associated with coping strategies in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and motor neuron disease (ALS/MND), such as demographics, clinical features and patient-reported outcomes. Coping strategies are important factors for adjustment and quality of life (QOL) in patients with long-term conditions, and this topic in people with ALS/MND has not yet been the subject of a systematic review. A systematic review was performed based on the PRISMA checklist. Electronic databases, including CINAHL, MEDLINE and EMBASE, were systemically searched from their inception to December 2019 for articles meeting the following inclusion criteria: (1) written in English, (2) published in peer-reviewed journals, (3) included subjects with ALS/MND and (4) used quantitative measurements of coping strategies in people with ALS/MND. Twenty-one articles were included. Significant relationships between participants' demographics (age and sex) and any coping strategy aspect were shown in six studies. Eight studies found significant relationships between clinical characteristics (disease duration and physical functional status) and coping strategies, and ten studies reported coping strategies that were associated with patients' QOL and mental health outcomes. Younger people used relatively more problem-focused, emotion-focused and social support coping strategies, and women used relatively more social support coping strategies. Problem-focused coping was generally related to better QOL and mental health, and emotion-focused coping was generally related to less depression. As the pattern of coping strategies is related to demographic and clinical characteristics, this study could be used to inform the provision of patient-centred nursing in clinical care. Coping patterns are related to mental health and QOL; thus, in clinical care, it is recommended that people with ALS be encouraged to develop skills that enable them to cope more effectively and that their coping strategies be assessed.