Coping Support Research Articles

Infant Temperament and Coparenting Support as Antecedents of French-Canadian Fathers’ Autonomy Support During Toddlerhood

SYNOPSIS Objective. Although a growing body of evidence suggests that paternal autonomy support (AS) promotes optimal child development in multiple spheres, antecedents of paternal AS have seldom been explored. The present longitudinal study used a family systems perspective to gain deeper insights into child and maternal antecedents of observed paternal AS versus controlling practices during toddlerhood. Design. Using a sample of 169 French-Canadian fathers (M age = 33.70 years old, SD = 4.74) and mothers (M = 31.46 years, SD = 4.11) with an infant (52% boys, 48% girls), structural equation modeling was conducted to investigate the predictive role of infant temperament and maternal coparenting support and gate closing attitudes on observed paternal AS and control, controlling for paternal psychological symptoms. At 6 months post-partum, fathers’ and mothers’ perceptions of infant temperament (extraversion/surgency, effortful control, and negative affectivity), maternal coparenting support and gate closing attitudes, and paternal psychological symptoms were assessed using questionnaires. At 12 months, both paternal AS and control were rated using a well-validated coding scheme, applied to a father-toddler problem-solving sequence filmed at home. Results. Findings revealed that infant extraversion/surgency as perceived by fathers at 6 months was prospectively associated with less paternal AS and more paternal control at 12 months. In contrast, maternal coparenting support at 6 months was associated with more paternal AS and less paternal control at 12 months. Conclusions. Policies and intervention programs that want to promote paternal AS should consider fathers’ perceptions of coparenting support and child temperament.

Development and Psychometric Properties of a Scale of Teachers’ Coping Strategies Towards the Evaluation of Performance in Public Schools

Teaching evaluation performance is an important policy adopted by the governing body of education in Peru to promote the growth of educational quality, professional development, and continuous training of teachers, as well as to ensure educational quality standards, especially in Peruvian elementary education. Therefore, this research aims to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a scale that measures the coping strategies adopted by elementary education teachers when evaluating their performance. A study was conducted with 317 teachers between 20 and 70 years old (M = 43.6, SD = 11.8) in public education, from preschool (10.4%) to secondary (24.9%) educational levels, including special and alternative education, and with employment status of contracted (46.1%) and appointed (53.9%). An exploratory factor analysis was performed, from which four factors emerged. These factors were then corroborated by confirmatory factor analysis (χ2 = 162, df = 13, CFI = 0.968, TLI = 0.961, RMSEA = 0.061, and SRMR = 0.056) and were named as follows: maladaptive coping, adaptive individual coping, religious coping, and instrumental support coping. Internal reliability was high for the full scale and dimensions (α and ω > 0.8), indicating that it was free of random error, yielding the same results across multiple applications for the same sample. It is concluded that the scale of teachers’ coping strategies towards the evaluation of performance (STCEP) is a valid and reliable instrument to measure coping strategies adopted by elementary education teachers in response to performance evaluation.

Moderators of treatment outcomes for LGBTQ+ military veterans in the PRIDE in All Who Served health promotion group.

Veterans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and related identities (LGBTQ+) have faced discrimination that puts them at increased risk for depression, anxiety, and suicide. Upstream interventions like the PRIDE in All Who Served program can improve internalized prejudice, suicidality, symptoms of depression, and symptoms of anxiety by addressing minority stress, facilitating social connection, and promoting engagement with the healthcare system. Yet, little is known about who benefits most from these types of services. Sixty-six US military veterans (Mean age = 47.06, SD = 13.74) provided outcome surveys before and after a 10-week health promotion group for LGBTQ+ individuals at one of 10 Veterans Health Administration (VA) Medical Centers. Subscales of a coping self-efficacy measure (e.g., problem-solving, social support, thought-stopping), and demographic factors were examined as moderators of treatment outcomes. Coping self-efficacy moderated effects across treatment outcomes with those lower in coping self-efficacy beliefs reporting the greatest benefit of the intervention. Reduction in anxiety symptoms was moderated only by problem-solving coping self-efficacy, while suicidality was moderated only by social support. Reduction of internalized prejudice and depression symptoms were moderated by both problem-solving and social support coping self-efficacy, while thought-stopping (a frequent target of traditional cognitive therapies) only moderated internalized prejudice, but not clinical symptom indicators. Most demographic factors (e.g., age, race, gender) did not impact treatment outcomes; however, sexual orientation was significant such that those who identified as bisexual, queer, or something else (e.g., pansexual) had greater reductions in internalized prejudice than their single gender-attracted peers. Individual differences like coping self-efficacy and sexual orientation are rarely considered in clinical care settings when shaping policy or implementing tailored programs. Understanding implications for who is most likely to improve could inform program refinement and implementation of affirming interventions for minoritized people.

Refugee Caregivers' Perceptions of Using Mindfulness-Based Interventions to Support Coping Skills in Children with Disability in Jordan.

Background: Refugee children with disabilities are vulnerable to developing dysfunctional coping skills due to barriers in accessing health care services, including occupational therapy (OT). This study investigated the perceptions of refugee caregivers regarding the use of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) as a treatment for coping skills among their children with disabilities. Methods: A qualitative survey was used to analyse the coping mechanisms and access to services among refugee children with disabilities, as well as their caregivers' perceptions regarding the use of MBIs. The caregivers were recruited using convenience sampling from a database of individuals at the Al-Baqa'a refugee camp in Jordan via their community-based rehabilitation (CBR) centre. A demographic survey was sent to 156 refugees using WhatsApp. Refugees above the age of 18 years identifying as the caregivers of children with disabilities were eligible. Twenty-eight individuals completed the survey, and twenty-six were eligible. Open-ended questions asked about their child's struggles, supports, barriers to support, and perceptions of MBIs. The data were collected via Google Sheets. Three researchers coded the responses using a descriptive coding method and line-by-line analysis. Results: Five themes were derived from the responses: "Daily Challenges", "Support and Strategies", "barriers to accessing support", "MBIs: Caregiver Perceptions", and "MBIs: Barriers". The participants identified the behavioural, emotional, and cognitive challenges impacting their child's participation. Financial and environmental constraints, stigma, and timing were the reported barriers to services. The participants felt positive about the potential of MBIs to support their children. Conclusions: Overall, this study obtained foundational data to establish accessible mental health programmes for refugees with disabilities. Further research is needed to transcend the barriers and maintain MBI programmes in the community and the home settings.

Correction to The effect of fathers' involvement and supportive coparenting partnership on Taiwanese new mothers' postpartum adjustment

Correction to The effect of fathers' involvement and supportive coparenting partnership on Taiwanese new mothers' postpartum adjustment

Associations among military sexual trauma, positive alcohol expectancies, and coping behaviors in female veterans.

Military sexual trauma (MST) is prevalent among female veterans and is associated with deleterious health outcomes. Adaptive coping strategies (e.g., emotional support) are associated with more positive outcomes, while maladaptive strategies (e.g., substance use) are associated with greater impairment. However, research on factors that influence specific coping strategy use is limited. For women with a history of MST, expectancies about the effects of alcohol may enhance the use of maladaptive and reduce the use of adaptive strategies. The present study tested this hypothesis. Associations among MST status and two coping behaviors (emotional support, substance use) in female veterans were examined and the mediating role of positive alcohol expectancies on these relationships was tested. A secondary analysis was conducted using self-report survey data from 186 female veterans in a Northeastern region. Measures included a brief screen for MST, the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Checklist for DSM-5, the Brief Cope, and the Brief Comprehensive Effects of Alcohol Questionnaire. Among all respondents, positive alcohol expectancies were significantly associated with greater substance use coping, while PTSD symptom severity was negatively associated with emotional support coping. Though women with MST reported greater positive alcohol expectancies and PTSD symptom severity, the direct effects of MST on coping were not significant. Mediation was not supported in our sample. Alcohol expectancies may be a viable target for intervention to reduce alcohol use as a maladaptive coping strategy among female veterans. Similarly, treatment targeting PTSD symptoms, regardless of MST status, is important for enhancing the use of adaptive coping strategies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Dual trajectories of supportive coparenting and father involvement: Parental predictors and influences

Dual trajectories of supportive coparenting and father involvement: Parental predictors and influences

Perceived Stress in Medical Education: Relationship with Empathy and Stigmatisation

Objective: Medical students have been shown to report high levels of perceived stress. Perceived stress leads to a loss of empathy and negatively affects attitudes and behaviours towards patients. This study aimed to investigate the perceived stress levels and empathy skills of medical students and their relationship with their attitudes to mental illness. Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Türkiye between March 2024 and April 2024 using an online survey. A total of 544 medical students attending university in the academic year 2023-2024 completed the questionnaire, which included the sociodemographic data form, the perceived medical school stress scale, the empathy scale, and the beliefs towards mental illness scale. Participants were asked whether they had received psychiatry training, whether they had been diagnosed with a mental illness, and whether they would disclose if they were diagnosed with a mental illness. Results: By gender, the mean Perceived Medical School Stress Scale score of females was statistically significantly higher than that of males (p=0.035). Perceived Medical School Stress Scale scores did not differ by training year, whereas Beliefs Towards Mental Illness Scale Weak Social and Interpersonal Skills sub-dimension scores did (p=0.643; and p=0.027, respectively). The Empathy Scale score of students who received psychiatry training was statistically significantly higher than that of students who did not receive a placement (p=0.003). A low significant negative correlation was found between the Perceived Medical School Stress and Empathy Scale scores (rho=-0.098; p=0.005). Conclusion: In our study, the perceived stress of medical students during their training differs according to gender, and its relationship with empathy skills is demonstrated. Individualised interventions to prevent and alleviate stress should be developed for students who need support coping with difficulties during their training.

Perceived Weight Discrimination and General Coping Strategies.

Perceived weight discrimination is associated consistently with worse health outcomes. Coping strategies may be one mechanism of this association. The present research examined the association between perceived weight discrimination and strategies used to cope with general stress (not weight-specific) and whether these strategies accounted for part of the association with markers of health. Participants (N = 1882) completed a cross-sectional survey with a comprehensive measure of coping strategies and reported on their perceived experience of weight discrimination and markers of physical, mental, and social health. Perceived weight discrimination was associated with greater use of disengaged coping strategies (β = .19, p < .01) and was unrelated to active and support coping strategies. Disengaged coping mediated the association between weight discrimination and worse physical, mental, and social health (proportion of mediation ranged from 14 to 47%). This pathway was independent of body mass index (BMI). Individuals in the obesity weight category (BMI ≥ 30kg/m2) were less likely to use active (β = - .11, p < .01) and support (β = - .09, p < .01) coping strategies, which did not consistently mediate the association with health. Perceived experiences of weight discrimination are associated with disengaged coping strategies to manage stressful experiences, and these strategies are one mechanism that may contribute to the worse health associated with unfair treatment due to weight.

Measurement invariance of the Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS) across 10 countries.

The purpose of this study was to assess the factor structure and the measurement invariance of the Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS) across 10 countries based on the seven-factor coparenting model (i.e., Coparenting Agreement, Coparenting Closeness, Exposure to Conflict, Coparenting Support, Endorsement of Partner's Parenting; Division of Labor) proposed by Feinberg (2003). The results of research on coparenting from numerous countries have documented its foundational importance for parent mental health, family relationship quality, child development, and psychopathology. Yet, a cross-country perspective is still lacking. Such a perspective can provide insight into which dimensions of coparenting are universally recognized and which are especially prone to variation. A unique multinational data set, comprised of 15 individual studies collected across 10 countries (Belgium, Brazil, China, Israel, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, USA) in nine languages was established (N = 9,292; 51.1% mothers). Measurement invariance analyses were conducted. A six-factor structure (original seven factors minus Division of Labor) of the measure was consistent across the different contexts and measurement invariance was achieved at the configural level. There was no support for metric or scalar invariance. These findings provide a basis for the CRS to be used across countries and should inspire future quantitative and qualitative research in cross-country coparenting research to understand what aspects are universal and what aspects of coparenting are linked to specific material, relational, or ideational conditions that underlie high-quality coparenting. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Refugee Caregiver Perceptions of Using Mindfulness-Based Interventions to Support Coping Skills in Their Children: A Survey in Jordan

Abstract Date Presented 03/23/24 We evaluated the perceptions of refugee caregivers on mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), to inform OT’s role in mental health care for this population, as well as to expand on OT’s role in providing community-based services. Primary Author and Speaker: Zeina Fayad Contributing Authors: Alexandria Powers, Miranda Michele Mlincek, Diane L. Smith, Fatima Chehouri, Rawan Alheresh

Coping Mechanisms and Their Associations With Depression and Anxiety Among Healthcare Workers in the Aftermath of COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study investigated the associations between anxiety, depression, and coping in healthcare workers during coronavirus disease 2019. A survey used the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2 to assess anxiety, the Patient Health Questionnaire 2 to assess depression, and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) scale to evaluate coping mechanisms. Of the 1172 participants who provided data, 24.7% screened positive for anxiety and 15.7% for depression. Logistic regression indicated that avoidance coping (odds ratio [OR], 3.92 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.91-5.29]; P < 0.001) and substance use coping (OR, 1.39 [95% CI, 1.00-1.90]; P = 0.049) were associated with higher odds of depression. Avoidance coping (OR, 2.81 [95% CI, 2.15-3.67]; P < 0.001) and social support coping (OR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.22-2.08]; P = 0.001) were associated with higher odds of anxiety. Interventions are needed to improve healthcare workers' coping and well-being.

Relationship between family resilience and dyadic coping in colorectal cancer patients and their spouses, based on the actor-partner interdependence model

PurposeTo explore the relationship between dyadic coping and family resistance in colorectal cancer patients and their spouses. Methods178 pairs of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses hospitalized in a three tertiary hospital in Changsha were selected from July 2021 to March 2022. The Family Resilience Assessment Scale and the Dyadic Coping Inventory were used to investigate, which relationship was analyzed by APIM. ResultsThe total score of patients' dyadic coping was 121.51 ± 16.8, and spouses' score was 123.72 ± 16.6. The total score of family resilience was 176.42 ± 16.0, and spouses' score was 182.72 ± 17.03. There was a significant positive relationship between dyadic coping and family resistance of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses (r > 0.7, P < 0.001). The positive dyadic coping of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses had a positive effect on their own and their spouses’ family resilience and the effect was the same. The negative dyadic coping of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses had a negative impact on their own family resilience, and the overall model showed a subject pattern. ConclusionsThe level of family resilience of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses was affected by the level of dyadic coping. Medical workers should regard patients and their spouses as a whole and formulate mutually supportive coping strategies with family as the center, so as to increase positive coping behavior and enhance their family's ability to cope with cancer.

Coparenting and Adolescent Academic Engagement: The Mediating Role of Parent–Child Communication Among a National Sample of Chinese Families

ABSTRACTThe relationship and related mediating mechanism between parental coparenting and adolescent academic engagement have yet to be elucidated during the pandemic. The present study is set to investigate the relationship between parental coparenting and adolescent academic engagement within Chinese families. Then it examines the mediating effects of parent–child communications in relationships. As a part of the national online survey in China, fathers, mothers and adolescents from 700 families across the country participated in the online survey. Both parents reported their coparenting support and conflict, while adolescents rated the level of open and problematic parent–child communication and their own academic engagement. Paternal coparenting conflict was related to adolescent academic engagement through both open and problematic communications. Paternal and maternal coparenting support was related to adolescent academic engagement through the mediating effect of open communication. Maternal coparenting conflict was related to adolescent academic engagement through problematic communication. Moreover, paternal coparenting support was positively directly related to adolescent academic engagement in the overall model. The research findings supported the effects of parental coparenting on adolescent academic engagement through the mediating effects of open and problematic parent–child communication. Paternal coparenting support had a greater impact on adolescent academic engagement.

Association between parental resource depletion and parent use of specific food parenting practices: An ecological momentary assessment study

The resource depletion model proposes that self-control is a limited resource that may become depleted after repeated use. This study aimed to improve our understanding of the correlates of resource depletion in parents, examine the association between resource depletion and use of coercive food parenting practices, and explore the relationship between resource depletion and stress. Children aged 5–9 and their parents (n = 631 dyads) were recruited from primary care clinics in a large metropolitan area in the United States in 2016–2019. Ecological momentary assessment was carried out over seven days with parents. Frequency tabulations and descriptive statistics were calculated to examine the overall, between-participant, and within-participant frequency of resource depletion, stress, and coercive food parenting practices. Resource depletion was higher among mothers (as compared to fathers) and native born participants (as compared to immigrants). Resource depletion was found to decrease significantly with each increase in household income level and perceived co-parenting support was negatively associated with resource depletion. Greater resource depletion earlier in the day was positively associated with coercive food parenting practices (e.g., food restriction, pressure-to-eat) at dinner the same night. Further, prior day resource depletion was associated with greater pressure-to-eat the next day. Parents with lower chronic stress were found to engage in pressuring when experiencing higher depletion. Clinicians and public health professionals should be aware of the role the resource depletion can play in parent's use of specific food parenting practices and seek to provide parents with the support they need to manage the cognitive load they are experiencing.

The effect of fathers' involvement and supportive coparenting partnership on Taiwanese new mothers' postpartum adjustment

AbstractObjectiveIn the present study, the cognitive theory of stress and coping was adopted as a framework and a mediation model was developed to investigate the long‐term effect of fathers' involvement in child care and mothers' appraisal of a supportive coparenting partnership (SCP) on postpartum depressed mood (PDM) and parenting self‐efficacy (PSE) in Taiwanese new mothers.BackgroundDue to the risk of PDM and low PSE, many new mothers struggle with first‐time motherhood. It is therefore meaningful to investigate the benefits of potential protective factors that can reduce the risk of PDM and enhance PSE, such as fathers' involvement in child care and mothers' appraisal of an SCP, to improve new mothers' postpartum adjustment.MethodUsing secondary data from the nationwide longitudinal project Kids in Taiwan, we analyzed data provided by 2,020 Taiwanese new mothers at 3 and 6 months after delivery. We conducted structural equation modeling to test our hypothetical mediation model.ResultsFathers' involvement in child care was significantly positively related to mothers' appraisal of an SCP, which in turn had a significant effect on reducing the risk of PDM and increasing PSE in Taiwanese new mothers both concurrently and 3 months later.ConclusionThis study highlighted the concurrent and long‐term benefits of fathers' involvement in child care for new mothers' postpartum adjustment and the importance of new mothers' appraisal of an SCP as a significant mediator.ImplicationsThese findings warrant the attention and efforts of family life educators, marriage counselors, and other experts in related fields to promote better parenting experiences for new parents.

A Leave of Absence Might Not Be a Bad Thing: Registered Practical Nurses Working in Home Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

To describe the resilience and emotional intelligence of Registered Practical Nurses working in Home and Community Care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, to determine if there was a relationship between resilience and emotional intelligence based on whether a nurse: (1) left the sector, (2) considered leaving, or (3) took a leave of absence during the pandemic. An online cross-sectional survey was used to capture respondents' demographic information and scores on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Resilience at Work Scale®, and Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale. Registered Practical Nurses working, or who had worked, in Home and Community Care January 2020 to September 2022 were eligible to participate. The Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys was used. The survey was available June to September 2022 and advertised by the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario to approximately 2105 members. Descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests were used to analyze results at a level of P < .05 was used for all analyses. A total of 672 respondents participated (completion rate = 92.8%). There were no differences on resilience or emotional intelligence scores based on whether a nurse left, or considered leaving, the Home and Community Care sector during the pandemic. However, nurses who took a leave of absence scored significantly higher on resilience and emotional intelligence measures when compared to those who did not. Results suggest that a leave of absence for these nurses during the pandemic may have been a supportive coping strategy.

Effects of paternal involvement in nighttime childcare on child and maternal sleep: exploring the roles of relationship satisfaction and maternal competence about child sleep.

Supportive coparenting between couples has been shown to have positive effects on the dyadic relationship, child development, and parental and child sleep. This study aimed to investigate the association between paternal involvement in nighttime childcare and child and maternal sleep, while exploring relationship satisfaction and maternal competence about child sleep as mediators. The sample consisted of 290 mothers (mean age ± standard deviation = 34.8 ± 4.1) with children (50.7% male) aged 6-36 (mean ± standard deviation = 22.7 ± 8.6) months. Participants reported their paternal involvement in nighttime childcare and completed the following questionnaires: Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire-Revised, Dyadic Adjustment Scale-4 items, and the Insomnia Severity Index. Path analysis was conducted to examine the impact of paternal involvement on child and maternal sleep through relationship satisfaction and maternal competence. Among the sample, 74.8% responded that paternal participation in nighttime childcare was less than 25%. Path analysis showed that paternal involvement had a significant direct effect on maternal insomnia (β = -.15, P < .05) but not on child sleep. Direct pathways from paternal involvement to relationship satisfaction (β = .17), from relationship satisfaction to maternal competence (β = .19), from maternal competence to child's sleep (β = -.57), and from child sleep to maternal insomnia (β = .48) were significant (P < .01). Relationship satisfaction mediated the associations between paternal involvement and child (β = -.08, P < .05) and maternal (β = -.04, P < .05) sleep. Paternal nighttime childcare involvement was low in South Korea. The results highlight the importance of considering paternal supportive participation and relationship satisfaction in future research on child and maternal sleep. Song J, Jang E, Astbury L, Bei B, Suh S. Effects of paternal involvement in nighttime childcare on child and maternal sleep: exploring the roles of relationship satisfaction and maternal competence about child sleep. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(8):1241-1250.

Mothers' Perceived Co-Parenting and Preschooler's Problem Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Maternal Parenting Stress and the Moderating Role of Family Resilience.

Problem behaviors in preschoolers signals social adjustment challenges. This study investigates the mediating role of parenting stress in the relationship between co-parenting and these behaviors, and examines how family resilience impacts this dynamic. A detailed survey was conducted with 1279 mothers of 3-6-year-olds in Shanghai, China, focusing on co-parenting, family resilience, parenting stress, and children's behaviors. We employed SPSS 26 for initial tests and the Hayes PROCESS macro in SPSS 23.0 for advanced analysis, using bootstrap methods to assess mediation and moderation effects. The analysis revealed that maternal parenting stress mediates the relationship between co-parenting and children's problem behaviors. Specifically, unsupportive co-parenting or low levels of supportive co-parenting heightened maternal stress, which in turn increased children's problem behaviors. Family resilience was found to moderate this relationship, buffering the impact of unsupportive co-parenting on maternal stress. High family resilience levels were associated with lower parenting stress, regardless of co-parenting quality. These findings highlight the importance of enhancing family resilience and supportive co-parenting to mitigate parenting stress and reduce problem behaviors in children. It has practical implications for developing family-centred interventions and policies to strengthen family resilience and co-parenting skills.

Completed year of study moderating effect on the relation between coping strategies and self-esteem among novice nurses – cross sectional study

Abstract Aim. To investigate the moderating role of the completed year of study on the relationship between coping strategies and self-esteem among undergraduate nursing students. Material and methods. Data collection was carried out in June-December 2020. A convenience sample has been used. A number of 182 questionnaires have been included for the analysis. A questionnaire consists of two scales (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Brief COPE) and a metric. Results. The lowest self-esteem presented nursing students who completed their second year of education (M=24.74; SD=4.97). A moderation effect of the completed year of education on the relationship between self-esteem and the self-blame coping strategy and between the level of self-esteem and use of emotional support coping strategy was found. Conclusions. The alarming results for students who completed the second year of study indicate the need for special attention and intervention among this group. Moreover, study-life balance should be promoted to deal with stress more effectively and to support students’ self-esteem.