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Stress and coping in the explanation of psychological adjustment among chronically ill adults

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  • Felton, Barbara J.
  • Revenson, Tracey A.
  • Hinrichsen, Gregory A.

Abstract

This study evaluates the utility of a stress and coping paradigm for explanining individual differences in psychological adjustment to chronic illness. Using data from the first wave of a longitudinal study of 170 middle-aged and elderly adults faced with one of four chronic illnesses (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer and rheumatoid arthritis), this paper examines the relationship between the stresses of chronic illness and coping, and the ability of coping to explain psychological adjustment. Results show coping strategy use tends to be minimally explained by medical diagnosis. Cognitive strategies, including information seeking, are related to positive affect while emotional strategies, particularly those involving avoidance, blame and emotional ventilation, are related to negative affect, lowered self-esteem and poorer adjustment to illness. While the findings suggest that a stress and coping model may be valuable in understanding adjustment among the chronically ill, the general modesty of coping effects and the failure of the stress buffering hypothesis to explain adjustment indicates a need for new research approaches and some modification of current theories of coping.

Suggested Citation

  • Felton, Barbara J. & Revenson, Tracey A. & Hinrichsen, Gregory A., 1984. "Stress and coping in the explanation of psychological adjustment among chronically ill adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 18(10), pages 889-898, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:18:y:1984:i:10:p:889-898
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    Cited by:

    1. Wun Chin Leong & Nor Aniza Azmi & Lei Hum Wee & Harenthri Devy Alagir Rajah & Caryn Mei Hsien Chan, 2021. "Validation and reliability of the Bahasa Malaysia language version of the Acceptance of Illness Scale among Malaysian patients with cancer," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-11, September.
    2. Ai Suzuki & Hirono Ishikawa & Masafumi Okada, 2021. "Development, Validation, and Internal Consistency of the Positive Psychology-Based Acceptance of Illness Scale (PAIS): A Culturally-Appropriate Japanese Measure," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(4), pages 21582440211, November.
    3. Inge M Brokerhof & Jan Fekke Ybema & P Matthijs Bal, 2020. "Illness narratives and chronic patients’ sustainable employability: The impact of positive work stories," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(2), pages 1-17, February.
    4. Golden, Jeannette & Conroy, Ronán Michael & Marie O'Dwyer, Ann & Golden, Daniel & Hardouin, Jean-Benoit, 2006. "Illness-related stigma, mood and adjustment to illness in persons with hepatitis C," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(12), pages 3188-3198, December.
    5. Beata Hornik & Jan Duława, 2019. "Frailty, Quality of Life, Anxiety, and Other Factors Affecting Adherence to Physical Activity Recommendations by Hemodialysis Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-18, May.
    6. Joanna Dymecka & Rafał Gerymski & Rafał Tataruch & Mariola Bidzan, 2021. "Fatigue, Physical Disability and Self-Efficacy as Predictors of the Acceptance of Illness and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Małgorzata Pasek & Grażyna Dębska & Ewa Wojtyna, 2017. "Perceived social support and the sense of coherence in patient–caregiver dyad versus acceptance of illness in cancer patients," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(23-24), pages 4985-4993, December.
    8. Sung Soo Lim, 2020. "The Effects of Chronic Illness on Aspirations and Subjective Wellbeing," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(5), pages 1771-1793, June.
    9. Johnson, Blair T. & Acabchuk, Rebecca L., 2018. "What are the keys to a longer, happier life? Answers from five decades of health psychology research," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 218-226.
    10. Katarzyna Mariańczyk & Wojciech Otrębski & Karolina Krzysztofik, 2022. "The Function of Occupational Activity for Health as Perceived by Chronically Ill People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, June.
    11. Wojciech Otrębski & Katarzyna Mariańczyk & Karolina Krzysztofik, 2022. "Selected Personality Traits and Employment as the Predictors of the Intensity of Psychosocial Problems Experienced by Chronically Ill Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-11, December.

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