Attachment styles, coping with stress, and social support among cancer patients

Introduction

This paper presents the role of attachment style in determining an individual's way of coping with stress, which in turn helps to understand the differences in response and adjustment to cancer among cancer patients. Cancer is an illness that causes overwhelming distress, and dealing with it requires social support, among other coping strategies.

Material and methods

Studies show that social support is associated with a decrease in psychological symptoms and a better quality of life in cancer patients. According to attachment theory, one's perception of threat, way of signaling distress, and strategies of coping with it, with special consideration for the ability to use a partner's support, relies on differences in avoidance and anxiety (attachment style dimensions).

Results

People with high avoidance (associated with deactivating attachment strategy) tend not to seek support from others and rely on themselves.

Conclusions

People with high anxiety (associated with deactivating attachment strategy) tend to display strong emotional responses, permanently seek attention and support from others, and yet are less able to feel comforted by them.

Effects of Metabolic Syndrome and Sex on Stress Coping Strategies in Individuals with Depressive Disorder

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is related to depression and contributes to reduced life expectancy in individuals with mental disorders. Stress coping strategies are important factors in the development and maintenance of depressive disorders and have been related to metabolic disturbances. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in the use of positive (re- and devaluation, distraction, and control) and negative stress coping strategies in relation to patients' MetS. A sample of 363 individuals (n female = 204, n male = 159) with a diagnosis of depression was measured with the Stress Coping Style Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory. In addition, we collected data on MetS (waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, fasting glucose/diabetes, blood pressure/hypertonia) according to the International Diabetes Federation. A 2 × 2 design including Mets (with vs. without) and sex (female vs. male) was performed to test for differences in stress coping strategies. Individuals with depression and MetS scored higher on distraction strategies than depressed individuals without MetS (p < 0.01, corrected with false discovery rate). In addition, we found sex differences in stress coping strategies indicating that women with depression scored higher on distraction strategies (p < 0.001, FDR corrected), as well as negative strategies (p < 0.001, FDR corrected), than men. No significant interaction between MetS and sex was found regarding the higher value of stress coping strategies. Findings suggest that individuals with depression and MetS used distraction strategies to a higher amount to cope with stress, which could be stress eating in some cases, than those without MetS. Women with depressive disorders had higher values than men on other coping strategies in our sample of individuals with depression. A better understanding of MetS and sex-specific differences in stress coping strategies might help to plan more effective preventive strategies and personalized treatment options for depression.

Perceived stress, stress coping strategies, and post-traumatic-growth among healthcare professionals during COVID-19 pandemic

AIM

The purpose of this research was to identify the perceived stress coping strategies, and Post-Traumatic-Growth (PTG) among Iranian healthcare professionals.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was applied.

METHODS

This study was conducted among 402 healthcare professionals in northwestern Iran. Participants completed demographic, perceived stress, stress coping strategies, and PTG questionnaires. Multiple linear regression was employed to identify the predictors of perceived stress and PTG.

RESULTS

The overall score of perceived stress was calculated 30.55 (6.18). The problem-oriented strategy was the most common stress coping by healthcare professionals (52.66 (8.72)). Also, the total score of PTG was calculated at 45.72 (30.42). Perceived stress, stress coping strategies (except problem-oriented), and PTG scores were significantly different between hospital and health centres participants (p-value < 0.05). Previous experience in critical situations, crisis-related course, degree, age, department, and stress coping strategies were related to the stress level. Moreover, workplace, department, work experiences, and employment status were the predictors of PTG.

Investigating the Relationship between the Attitude Towards Infertility and Stress Coping Strategies among Couples undergoing Assisted Reproduction Treatment

INTRODUCTION

Infertility and its treatment methods among couples have psychological and social consequences. To encounter these consequences, coping strategies are commonly used, which are influenced by various factors, such as the attitude of couples toward infertility.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to determine the relationship between attitudes toward infertility and stress-coping strategies among couples undergoing Assisted Reproduction Treatment, referring to the infertility clinic of Al-Zahra Educational Center.

METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional study performed on 153 couples referred to Al-Zahra Infertility Clinic in Rasht. Three instruments (demographic questionnaire, attitude, and Lazarus coping strategies questionnaire) were used with regard to the inclusion restrictions.

RESULTS

Between the two variables of individual and social information factors and the attitude of couples toward infertility, only the duration of infertility factor revealed a significant relationship (p <0.05); and in explaining the relationship between individual and social variables and coping strategies, the lack of insurance in both genders with an emotion-oriented strategy, the female infertility factor in women with the confrontational adjustment domain, and treatment in a discontinuous way in both genders have a significant relationship with the problem-oriented domain (p <0.05). Accountability and problem-solving strategies in women and an escapeavoidance strategy in infertile men have been identified as the most important predictors of attitude toward infertility.

CONCLUSION

There is a relationship between attitudes toward infertility and coping strategies. However, the impact of community culture on the type of coping strategies used in this study has led to different results in some cases from other studies.

Assessment of the Emotional State of Parents of Children Starting the Vojta Therapy in the Context of the Physical Activity-A Pilot Study

The aim of the study was to assess the emotional state of parents at the moment of starting therapy for their children using the Vojta method in the context of the physical activity undertaken by the parents. The study involved 68 parents (37 mothers and 31 fathers) of children with central coordination disorders (CCD) presenting for consultation and therapy using the Vojta method. The authors' questionnaires, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and the Inventory to Measure Coping Strategies with Stress (Mini-COPE) were used. As many as 84% of mothers and 77% of fathers presented high level of perceived stress. Comparative analysis showed a statistically significant difference in anxiety and life satisfaction between the groups of mothers and fathers studied. Taking declared physical activity into account, there was a statistically significant difference in stress and anxiety in the mothers' group and a statistically significant difference in mood and life satisfaction in the fathers' group. Promoting physical activity among parents of children with CCD can be helpful in maintaining better psycho-physical conditions and can also be a good tool in combating stress in difficult situations, such as the illness and therapy of a child.

Sex-specific Relationship between Stress Coping Strategies and All-Cause Mortality: Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Stress coping strategies are related to health outcomes. However, there is no clear evidence for sex differences between stress-coping strategies and mortality. We investigated the relationship between all-cause mortality and stress-coping strategies, focusing on sex differences among Japanese adults.

METHODS

A total of 79,580 individuals aged 35-69 years participated in the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study between 2004 and 2014 and were followed up for mortality. The frequency of use of the five coping strategies was assessed using a questionnaire. Sex-specific, multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for using each coping strategy "sometimes," and "often/very often" (versus "very few" use) were computed for all-cause mortality. Furthermore, relationships were analyzed in specific follow-up periods when the proportion assumption was violated.

RESULTS

During the follow-up (median: 8.5 years), 1,861 mortalities were recorded. In women, three coping strategies were related to lower total mortality. The HRs (95% confidence intervals) for "sometimes" were 0.81 (0.67-0.97) for emotional expression, 0.79 (0.66-0.95) for emotional support-seeking, and 0.80 (0.66-0.98) for disengagement. Men who "sometimes" used emotional expression and sometimes or often used problem-solving and positive reappraisal had a 15-41% lower HRs for all-cause mortality. However, those relationships were dependent on the follow-up period. There was evidence that sex modified the relationships between emotional support-seeking and all-cause mortality (p for interaction = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

In a large Japanese population, selected coping strategies were associated with all-cause mortality. The relationship of emotional support-seeking was different between men and women.

Posttraumatic Growth in Postlingually Deaf Patients With Cochlear Implants: The Effect of Stress-Coping Strategies, Sociodemographics, and Deafness-Related Factors

The aim of this study was to assess whether cochlear implant (CI) users who had been postlingually deaf developed a more positive outlook on life—the so-called posttraumatic growth (PTG)—as a result of their disability and to examine how PTG related to their stress-coping strategies and personal circumstances. The study group consisted of 119 postlingually deaf CI users. The participants were asked to anonymously fill in several questionnaires: the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (Brief COPE), and a form asking for personal details and factors related to their deafness and CI use. The PTG of postlingually deaf CI users was similar to that found in people with other severe health problems. The time that had elapsed since the hearing was lost and the time from receiving a CI were positively correlated with PTG. The level of PTG was correlated with the particular coping strategies used and differed between men and women. We found that the development of PTG could emerge from both approach-oriented coping strategies (e.g., active coping and planning) and avoidance-oriented coping strategies (e.g., denial, self-distraction, and self-blame). Paradoxically, the avoidance strategies could play a positive role in the development of PTG. This reinforces the idea, previously raised in the PTG literature, that such strategies exert a defensive and protective function—an “illusory” side of PTG—which operates together with the positive constructive side, and both help develop the sense of well-being of a person.

The Influence of Gender and Year of Study on Stress Levels and Coping Strategies among Polish Dental

Background and objectives: Stress is a common term used to describe various adverse psychological conditions. Students in the dentistry field face many negative psychological outcomes. The core factors for stress among dental students are related to their training course and social contacts with peers. This research aimed to assess the stress of dental students depending on their gender and study year. Materials and methods: We used the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and Mini-COPE questionnaire. The surveys were conducted among 446 dental students (320 women and 126 men) at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. Results: For the second-year and fifth-year students, the differences in scores were statistically significant, while in both cases, men had significantly lower values on the analysed scale. The results of the Kruskal-Wallis test indicated significantly lower values on the PSS-10 scale for the third-year and fourth-year students than in first-year students. The performed statistical analysis of the data obtained from the Mini-COPE questionnaire showed significant differences between men and women in individual years of study. In the first year, women chose more often the strategies related to turning to religion (p = 0.007), seeking emotional support (p = 0.046), seeking instrumental support (p = 0.045) and dealing with something else (p = 0.029) in coping with stress than men. Conclusions: The highest level of stress was found among first-year dental students. Moreover, women were characterised with higher stress levels than men. Men more often use psychoactive substances and resort to a sense of humour to cope with stress. On the other hand, women turn to religion, seek instrumental and emotional support.

Psychological factors of vulnerability to suicide ideation: Attachment styles, coping strategies, and dysfunctional attitudes

BACKGROUND

Suicide ideation is one of the common mental health problems among university students. This study aimed to explain suicide ideation susceptibility by examining the relationships between psychological factors.

METHODOLOGY

The population of the study included all female undergraduate students at the University of Isfahan in autumn 2018. A sample of 180 individuals were selected through multistage sampling from different faculties and majors. The scales used in this study included adults attachments inventory, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situation, Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale, and Suicide Ideation Scale. The statistical analyses included t-test, Pearson correlation, and path analysis.

RESULTS

Suicide ideation was reported in 25% of the participants. The t-test analysis indicated that the mean scores for dysfunctional attitudes (P < 0.01) and problem-focused coping (P < 0.01) were significantly different in with and without suicide ideation groups. Suicide ideation significantly correlated with problem-focused coping (r = -0.42, P < 0.01), emotion-focused coping (r = 0.25, P < 0.05), and dysfunctional attitudes (r = 0.23, P < 0.05). Path analysis showed that dysfunctional attitudes and emotion-focused coping significantly influenced suicide ideation. Moreover, the indirect effect of insecure (ambivalent and avoidant) attachment styles by mediating role of dysfunctional attitudes and emotion-focused coping was statistically significant (P < 0.01) and the indirect effect of dysfunctional attitudes by mediating role of emotion-focused coping as well (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Insecure attachment styles and dysfunctional attitudes work as stress-diathesis model in predicting suicide ideation and increase suicide ideation susceptibility by affecting emotion-focused coping strategy. The hypothesized model in this study can help formulate, evaluate, and prevent suicide risk.

Native American adolescent narrative written stories of stress

OBJECTIVE(S)

The purpose of this paper is to report study findings related to themes of stress and coping strategies experienced by non-reservation-based Native American adolescents as expressed by their written stories.

DESIGN

A qualitative descriptive narrative approach was used to capture written stories of stress.

ANALYSIS

Key concepts and themes were identified by using the consensual qualitative research (CQR) approach from the participant's stories of stress.

RESULTS

Written stories of stress were collected and analyzed from a convenience sample of 179 Native American adolescent's ages 13-18-years old. Five major themes related to experiences of stress emerged from the stories including (a) relationships, (b) responsibilities, (c) socioeconomic status, (d) negative coping strategies, and (e) positive coping through Native-Reliance.

CONCLUSION

The findings reveal the importance of understanding the types and response to stress experienced by Native American adolescents.

Predicting Effects of Psychological Inflexibility/Experiential Avoidance and Stress Coping Strategies for Internet Addiction, Significant Depression, and Suicidality in College Students: A Prospective Study

The aims of this study were to evaluate the predicting effects of psychological inflexibility/experiential avoidance (PI/EA) and stress coping strategies for Internet addiction, significant depression and suicidality among college students during the follow-up period of one year. A total of 500 college students participated in this study. The level of PI/EA and stress coping strategies were evaluated initially. One year later, 324 participants were invited to complete the Chen Internet Addiction Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II and the questionnaire for suicidality to evaluate depression symptoms and internet addiction and suicidality. The predicting effects of PI/EA and stress coping strategies were examined by using logistic regression analysis controlling for the effects of gender and age. The results indicated that PI/EA at the initial assessment increased the risk of Internet addiction (OR = 1.087, 95% CI: 1.042–1.135), significant depression (OR = 1.125, 95% CI: 1.081–1.170), and suicidality (OR = 1.099, 95% CI: 1.053–1.147) at the follow-up assessment. Less effective coping at the initial assessment also increased the risk of Internet addiction (OR = 1.074, 95% CI: 1.011–1.140), significant depression (OR = 1.091, 95% CI: 1.037–1.147), and suicidality (OR = 1.074, 95% CI: 1.014–1.138) at the follow-up assessment. Problem focused and emotion-focus coping at the initial assessment was not significantly associated with the risks of Internet addiction, significant depression, and suicidality at the follow-up assessment. College students who have high PI/EA or are accustomed to using less effective stress coping strategies should be the target of prevention programs for IA (internet addiction), depression, and suicidality.

Male ICU nurses' experiences of taking care of dying patients and their families: a gender analysis

Male intensive care unit (ICU) nurses bring energy and expertise along with an array of beliefs and practices to their workplace. This article investigates the experiences of male ICU nurses in the context of caring for dying patients and their families. Applying a gender analysis, distilled are insights to how masculinities inform and influence the participants' practices and coping strategies. The findings reveal participants draw on masculine ideals of being a protector and rational in their decisive actions toward meeting the comfort needs of dying patients and their families. Somewhat paradoxically, most participants also transgressed masculine norms by outwardly expressing their feelings and talking about emotions related to these experiences. Participants also reported renewed appreciation of their life and their families and many men chronicled recreational activities and social connectedness as strategies for coping with workplace induced stresses. The findings drawn from this study can guide both formal and informal support services for men who are ICU nurses, which in turn might aid retention of this subgroup of workers.