Cultural and gender differences in coping strategies between Caucasian American and Korean American older people

The impact of resilience and coping strategies on depressive symptoms among Korean American older adults during COVID-19

OBJECTIVES

This study examined how resilience and coping strategies were associated with depressive symptoms among Korean American older adults during COVID-19. The prevalent depressive symptoms and low use of mental health services in this population have raised significant concerns among healthcare professionals. Therefore, this study aims to understand the relationships between resilience and coping types on depressive symptoms and provide valuable insights into addressing these issues within this ethnic group.

METHOD

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 132 Korean American older adults. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were performed to assess the effect of sociodemographic factors (age, gender, marital status, years of living in the U.S., self-rated health, financial security), resilience, and coping strategies (problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, avoidant coping) on depressive symptoms. Next, the interactions between resilience and three coping strategies for depressive symptoms were tested.

RESULTS

The findings show that depressive symptoms were associated with financial security and avoidant coping. Also, resilience interacted with avoidant coping and emotion-focused coping. Among the participants with low resilience, depressive symptoms increased rapidly when avoidant and emotion-focused coping strategies increased, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study emphasizes the importance of culturally tailored interventions to promote resilience and decrease avoidant and emotion-focused coping among Korean American older adults.

Associations between coping strategies and psychological distress among people living in Ukraine, Poland, and Taiwan during the initial stage of the 2022 War in Ukraine

Background: The 2022 War in Ukraine has significantly affected the psychological well-being and daily lives of people in many countries.Objective: Two aims of this transnational study were (1) to compare psychological distress and coping strategies among people living in Ukraine, Poland, and Taiwan, (2) to examine whether the associations between various coping strategies (ie. problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and avoidance) and psychological distress (ie. depression, anxiety, stress, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and hopelessness about the ongoing war) differed among people of various countries during the initial stage of the 2022 War in Ukraine.Method: In total, 1,598 participants (362 from Ukraine, 1,051 from Poland, and 185 from Taiwan) were recruited using an online advertisement to complete online survey questionnaires, including the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced inventory; the 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale; the Impact of Event Scale-Revised; and a questionnaire devised to assess the level of hopelessness about the ongoing war.Results: Psychological distress and adoption of coping strategies differed across people of various countries. Among Taiwanese and Polish respondents, avoidant coping strategies were most strongly associated with all categories of psychological distress compared with problem- and emotion-focused coping strategies. However, the associations of various coping strategies with psychological distress differed to a less extent among Ukrainian respondents. In addition, problem- and emotion-focused coping strategies had comparable associations with psychological distress among the people of Ukraine, Poland, and Taiwan.Conclusions: The 2022 War in Ukraine has affected the psychological well-being of people, especially the Ukrainians. Because of the strong association between the adoption of avoidance coping strategies and psychological distress, despite a less extent among Ukrainian respondents, adaptive coping strategies such as (problem- and emotion-focused) are suggested to help people during times of war.

Gender and country differences in academic motivation, coping strategies, and academic burnout in a sample of Italian and Russian first-year university students

Background

The first year of university represents a challenging period that requires students to make significant investments in adaptive resources to face the new academic environment. The present study intends to contribute to the controversial discussion of gender differences in academic motivation, coping strategies, and academic burnout. This cross-sectional study examined above-mentioned constructs among first-year university students in a cross-cultural context.

Methods

The sample consisted of 637 Italian and 496 Russian first-year university students (n = 1133), 40.3% of whom were females. The participants' ages ranged from 17 to 23 years, with a mean age of 18.75 years (SD = 1.07). To assess academic motivation, coping strategies, and academic burnout, participants responded to the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS), the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS) application.

Results

The findings reveal gender and country differences in academic motivation, emotion and avoidance oriented coping strategies, and emotional exhaustion and expands previous studies in this educational area.

Conclusion

Given the technical nature of the research topic, the target audience for our study is academic career guidance practitioners, who can apply the findings to the design of effective programmes aimed at improving positive academic goals and reducing the tendency to switch academic courses or abandon the university among first-year students.

Workers' individual and dyadic coping with the COVID-19 health emergency: A cross cultural study

The aim of this study was to examine workers' psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic as a function of their individual coping, dyadic coping, and work-family conflict. We also tested the moderating role of gender and culture in these associations. To achieve this aim, we run HLM analyses on data from 1521 workers cohabiting with a partner, coming from six countries (Italy, Spain, Malta, Cyprus, Greece, and Russia) characterized by various degrees of country-level individualism/collectivism. Across all six countries, findings highlighted that work-family conflict as well as the individual coping strategy social support seeking were associated with higher psychological distress for workers, while the individual coping strategy positive attitude and common dyadic coping were found to be protective against workers' psychological distress. This latter association, moreover, was stronger in more individualistic countries.

Sex Differences in Coping Strategies Based on Chronic Pain Intensity Among Older Adults

The aim of the current study was to investigate chronic pain coping strategies of older adults and the differences between sexes according to the intensity of pain. A cross-sectional study was performed in specialty clinics in midwestern Brazil. Participants comprised 276 older adults with chronic pain. The Brief Pain Inventory and Chronic Pain Coping Inventory-Brazilian version were used to assess self-reported pain intensity and pain coping strategies. Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunn tests were used for intergroup comparisons. The task persistence and coping self-statements subscales were the most used coping strategies. The strategies of exercise/stretching and task persistence were used differently between males and females. Males showed significant differences in asking for assistance, task persistence, and guarding subscales when pain intensity was taken into account, whereas females showed differences in the guarding and resting subscales. Adaptive coping was the most used coping strategy; however, some non-adaptive subscales were significant in both sexes when compared with levels of chronic pain intensity. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 47(10), 30-36.].

Stress and worry in the 2020 coronavirus pandemic: relationships to trust and compliance with preventive measures across 48 countries in the COVIDiSTRESS global survey

The COVIDiSTRESS global survey collects data on early human responses to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic from 173 429 respondents in 48 countries. The open science study was co-designed by an international consortium of researchers to investigate how psychological responses differ across countries and cultures, and how this has impacted behaviour, coping and trust in government efforts to slow the spread of the virus. Starting in March 2020, COVIDiSTRESS leveraged the convenience of unpaid online recruitment to generate public data. The objective of the present analysis is to understand relationships between psychological responses in the early months of global coronavirus restrictions and help understand how different government measures succeed or fail in changing public behaviour. There were variations between and within countries. Although Western Europeans registered as more concerned over COVID-19, more stressed, and having slightly more trust in the governments' efforts, there was no clear geographical pattern in compliance with behavioural measures. Detailed plots illustrating between-countries differences are provided. Using both traditional and Bayesian analyses, we found that individuals who worried about getting sick worked harder to protect themselves and others. However, concern about the coronavirus itself did not account for all of the variances in experienced stress during the early months of COVID-19 restrictions. More alarmingly, such stress was associated with less compliance. Further, those most concerned over the coronavirus trusted in government measures primarily where policies were strict. While concern over a disease is a source of mental distress, other factors including strictness of protective measures, social support and personal lockdown conditions must also be taken into consideration to fully appreciate the psychological impact of COVID-19 and to understand why some people fail to follow behavioural guidelines intended to protect themselves and others from infection. The Stage 1 manuscript associated with this submission received in-principle acceptance (IPA) on 18 May 2020. Following IPA, the accepted Stage 1 version of the manuscript was preregistered on the Open Science Framework at https://osf.io/g2t3b. This preregistration was performed prior to data analysis.

Mexican descent college student risky sexual behaviors and alcohol use: The role of general and cultural based coping with discrimination

This study investigates cultural and general coping strategies as potential protective or risk factors to risky sexual behaviors (RSBs) and alcohol use in the face of discrimination for Mexican descent college students. Participants: Data collection was conducted from September 2016 to May 2017 and included 796 Mexican descent emerging adults. Methods: Linear regressions were conducted to test main and interaction effects of discrimination, and general and cultural coping strategies on RSBs and alcohol use issues. Results: Higher discrimination experiences were not associated with RSBs or alcohol use issues. Only ethnicity-based coping was found to be a significant moderator to the relationships between discrimination and the outcome variables of RSBs and alcohol use issues. Conclusions: This study has implications for the way mental health clinicians explore the intersection of ethnic identity and coping as a means of understanding the relationship among discrimination, RSBs, and alcohol use issues.

Quality of life in early-stage Alzheimer's disease: the moderator role of family variables and coping strategies from the patients' perspective

AIM

This study assessed the effects of sociodemographic and psychological variables on quality of life (QOL), as well as the moderator role of family variables and coping strategies in the relationship between psychological morbidity and QOL, based on patients' perspective.

METHODS

This study used a cross-sectional design. A total of 158 patients with early Alzheimer's disease completed the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Ways of Coping Questionnaire, the Spiritual and Religious Attitudes in Dealing with Illness, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales, the Family Satisfaction Scale, the Family Communication Scale, the Barthel Index, and the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease Scale.

RESULTS

Being a man, having a higher education, and engaging in more exercise activity were associated with better QOL. Lower levels of cognitive impairment, psychological morbidity, and spirituality predicted better QOL. Also, lower levels of functionality, family communication, family satisfaction, and family functioning contributed to worse QOL. Gender, psychological morbidity, and functionality contributed significantly to QOL. Family satisfaction, family communication, and coping strategies moderated the relationship between psychological morbidity and QOL.

CONCLUSION

Intervention in early-stage Alzheimer's disease should focus on patients' coping strategies and family context, particularly family satisfaction and communication, to foster QOL.

Coping strategies among Iranian children with experience of Sarpol-e-Zahab earthquake: factor structure of children's Coping Strategies Checklist-revision1 (CCSC-R1)

Background

Stress-related situations play a significant role in children’s lives and result in different reaction in children. Among various methods of evaluating the stressful environment of children, 54-item Children’s Coping Strategies Checklist-Revision1 (CCSC-R1) has been developed as one of the most powerful tools for assessing different aspects of coping in children. The purpose of the present study is to find the psychometric properties of Persian CCSC-R1 and to identify the coping strategies used by Iranian children.

Method

Subjects included 401 female students aged between 9 and 13 who were subjected to the Sarpol-e-Zahab earthquake (in Northeast of Iran). Construct and convergence validities were examined with confirmatory factor analysis and correlated with Children’s Coping Behavior Questionnaire (CCBQ). Reliability was obtained by internal consistency. Using repeated analysis of variance, the status of coping strategies in children were achieved.

Results

Confirmatory factor analysis showed a good model fit to the four-factor structure, active coping, distracting action/distraction, avoidance, and support seeking strategies. The results also demonstrated that there was a strong relationship between four-factors of CCSC-R1 including their subscales and CCBQ. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha) for the four dimensions were in the range of 0.76 to 0.88. The findings also showed that Iranian children use active coping, especially optimism, more than other strategies in order to deal with their stressful situations.

Conclusions

It is concluded that CCSC-R1 is a valid and reliable instrument which could be employed for Iranian children. Furthermore, in the face of traumatic events, Iranian children acted same as people in individualistic cultures.

Influencia del sexo, edad y cultura en las estrategias de afrontamiento de adolescentes paraguayos y mexicanos

La adolescencia es un periodo sensible al estrés, sin embargo, el afrontamiento puede contribuir a una adaptación positiva, el cual tiende a cambiar en función de algunas variables personales como el sexo, la edad y contextuales, como la cultura. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la influencia del sexo, edad y cultura en las estrategias de afrontamiento con adolescentes paraguayos y mexicanos. Se realizó un estudio de campo transversal, expos-facto, de tipo comparativo de dos muestras independientes con un diseño 2 x 2 x 2. Participaron de manera intencional 2278 adolescentes escolares paraguayos (n = 1188) y mexicanos (n = 1090), de 13 a 18 años (M = 15.15; DE = 1.48). Se aplicó la Escala de Afrontamiento para Adolescentes (ACS) que evalúa tres estilos y 18 estrategias de afrontamiento, y una cédula sociodemográfica. Se encontraron diferencias y efectos principales por edad y país en los estilos de afrontamiento productivo, no productivo y con referencia a otros y en algunas de sus estrategias. Las mujeres usan más estrategias de afrontamiento, muchas relacionadas con la búsqueda de apoyo social. Los adolescentes tempranos paraguayos y mexicanos tienden a presentar menos estrategias productivas. Solo se observaron efectos de interacción del sexo y la cultura en los estilos de afrontamiento. Estos datos aportan evidencia que podría ser útil para las políticas públicas de prevención y promoción de salud en adolescentes.

Acculturative Stress, Social Problem Solving, and Depressive Symptoms among Korean American Immigrants

The present study examined the relationship among acculturative stress, social problem solving, and depressive symptoms among 107 Korean American immigrants. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that acculturative stress significantly predicted depressive symptoms controlling for different domains of acculturation. With regard to the role of social problem solving, among the five dimensions of social problem solving (i.e., positive problem orientation, negative problem orientation, rational problem solving, impulsive/careless style, and avoidant style), negative problem orientation and impulsive/careless style significantly predicted depressive symptoms. Avoidant style significantly interacted with acculturative stress, indicating that avoidant style is associated with depressive symptoms when acculturative stress is high. The study underscores the impact of culture as well as severity of stress on the relationship among acculturative stress, coping, and depressive symptoms among Korean American immigrants.

Coping strategies, satisfaction with life, and quality of life in Crohn's disease: A gender perspective using structural equation modeling analysis

OBJECTIVE

To identify coping strategies and socio-demographics impacting satisfaction with life and quality of life in Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS

402 patients completed the Patient Harvey-Bradshaw Index, Brief COPE Inventory, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ). We performed structural equation modeling (SEM) of mediators of quality of life and satisfaction with life.

RESULTS

The cohort comprised: men 39.3%, women 60.1%; P-HBI 4.75 and 5.74 (p = 0.01). In inactive CD (P-HBI≤4), both genders had SWLS score 23.8; men had SIBDQ score 57.4, women 52.6 (p = 0.001); women reported more use of emotion-focused, problem-focused and dysfunctional coping than men. In active CD, SWLS and SIBDQ scores were reduced, without gender differences; men and women used coping strategies equally. A SEM model (all patients) had a very good fit (X2(6) = 6.68, p = 0.351, X2/df = 1.114, SRMR = 0.045, RMSEA = 0.023, CFI = 0.965). In direct paths, economic status impacted SWLS (β = 0.39) and SIBDQ (β = 0.12), number of children impacted SWLS (β = 0.10), emotion-focused coping impacted SWLS (β = 0.11), dysfunctional coping impacted SWLS (β = -0.25). In an indirect path, economic status impacted dysfunctional coping (β = -0.26), dysfunctional coping impacted SIBDQ (β = -0.36). A model split by gender and disease activity showed that in active CD economic status impacted SIBDQ in men (β = 0.43) more than women (β = 0.26); emotional coping impacted SWLS in women (β = 0.36) more than men (β = 0.14).

CONCLUSIONS

Gender differences in coping and the impacts of economic status and emotion-focused coping vary with activity of CD. Psychological treatment in the clinic setting might improve satisfaction with life and quality of life in CD patients.

Cultural Influence on Coping Strategies of Filipino Immigrant Nurses

Much of the research on internationally educated nurses (IENs) has focused on the challenges they encounter in the United States and how they can best be integrated into the workplace. Despite their many challenges, Filipino IENs continue to come to the United States and thrive, bringing with them diverse experience and knowledge that contribute to the provision of quality care to a patient population that is becoming increasingly diverse. Although a substantial body of research has been published on IEN coping, fewer studies have focused on the influence of culture on Filipino IEN's preferred coping strategies. This study contributes to the burgeoning interest in understanding culture's influence on coping patterns and preferences among diverse populations. Occupational health nurses and administrators can use these findings to develop culturally appropriate health promotion programs and interventions to retain quality nurses and promote healthier workplaces.

Coping strategies and risk of cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality: the Japan Public Health Center-based prospective Study

AIMS

Coping strategies may be significantly associated with health outcomes. This is the first study to investigate the association between baseline coping strategies and cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality in a general population cohort.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Japan Public Health Center-based prospective Study asked questions on coping in its third follow-up survey (2000-04). Analyses on CVD incidence and mortality included 57 017 subjects aged 50-79 without a history of CVD and who provided complete answers on approach- and avoidance-oriented coping behaviours and strategies. Cox regression models, adjusted for confounders, were used to determine hazard ratios (HRs) according to coping style. Mean follow-up time was 7.9 years for incidence and 8.0 years for mortality.The premorbid use of an approach-oriented coping strategy was inversely associated with incidence of stroke (HR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73-1.00) and CVD mortality (HR = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.55-0.99). Stroke subtype analyses revealed an inverse association between the approach-oriented coping strategy and incidence of ischaemic stroke (HR = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64-0.98) and a positive association between the combined coping strategy and incidence of intra-parenchymal haemorrhage (HR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.01-4.10). Utilizing an avoidance coping strategy was associated with increased mortality from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) only in hypertensive individuals (HR = 3.46; 95% CI, 1.07-11.18). The coping behaviours fantasizing and positive reappraisal were associated with increased risk of CVD incidence (HR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.03-1.50) and reduced risk of IHD mortality (HR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.40-0.99), respectively.

CONCLUSION

An approach-oriented coping strategy, i.e. proactively dealing with sources of stress, may be associated with significantly reduced stroke incidence and CVD mortality in a Japanese population-based cohort.

Connection or Independence

This study investigates differences and similarities in coping responses to peer victimization and the way culture is reflected in the social cognitions adolescents used in choosing their coping responses through a mixed-method design with 731 Taiwanese and 470 U.S. adolescents. Adolescents provided coping responses to peer victimization via both hypothetical situations and within structured open-ended questions. Two culturally distinctive psychological frameworks, seeking connection in Taiwan and showing independence in the United States, were reflected in both the coping responses that adolescents endorsed (i.e., more seeking adults’ support in Taiwan and more problem-solving coping in the United States) and the social cognitions used in the coping process (e.g., connection seeking in Taiwan and self-independence demonstration in the United States). Taiwan and U.S. adolescents also differ in the prevalence of coping strategies in the real-life peer victimization descriptions in a way that was comparable with our quantitative findings (i.e., more seeking friends and adults’ support in Taiwan and more solving the problem on one’s own in the United States).