Can patterns of coping explain more? a study of coping and emotions in surgical stress

Psychopathological symptoms, defense mechanisms and time perspectives among subjects with alcohol dependence (AD) presenting different patterns of coping with stress

Background

The problem of coping with stress is an important one in the context of development and persistence of alcohol dependence. In the literature to date very little attention has been paid to coping patterns construed as a configuration of specific coping styles, particularly as regards the functioning of addicted individuals. The aim of the study was to verify whether individuals with alcohol dependence characterized by different coping patterns differ with respect to the severity of psychopathological symptoms, defense mechanisms and time perspectives.

Methods

Participants were given a battery of psychological tests—Coping Inventory for Stresfull Situations (CISS), Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ 40), Syndrom Checklist (SCL-90) and Short Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (SZPTI-PL). The sample comprised 112 individuals with alcohol dependence, aged 20 to 63 years old, the average age was 37.86; 78 percent were men. There were identified three sub-groups of individuals characterized by a distinctive patterns of coping with stress —“emotional-avoidant”, “task oriented” and a “mixed one”.

Results

Individuals with the predominant emotional-avoidant coping pattern are characterized by significantly higher severity of psychopathological symptoms, less mature defense mechanisms and past time perspectives. Subjects reliant on task-oriented coping pattern were characterized by the highest level of adaptation and the most constructive way of functioning in the face of difficulties.

Conclusion

It is worth regarding the examination of patterns of coping as an indispensable element of collecting medical history from alcohol dependent individuals.

Exploring Factors That Affect Score Reliability and Variability

One instrument cited in the literature as an effective measure of approaches to coping is the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WAYS; Folkman & Lazarus, 2005 ). This study is a reliability generalization (RG) study of the WAYS that strives to further distill psychometric properties of the scores generated by this measure. Results from this meta-analytic investigation of 130 previously published research studies indicate that the Confrontive Coping and Distancing subscales generate the most variable reliability coefficients across studies. Regression analyses suggest that the variables type of scoring, sample size, population type, sample source, gender homogeneity, and racial homogeneity were most important in determining reliability estimates on the Seeking Social Support, Escape-Avoidance, Planful Problem Solving, and Positive Reappraisal subscales. Implications for the use of the WAYS are offered.