Showing papers on "Coping (psychology) published in 1979"

Coping with Physical Illness

Abstract: First published in hardcover in 1984. Chapters explore dealing with birth defects and perinatal death, childhood and adult cancer and other chronic conditions, and leukemia in children. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Integrating Coping Behavior in Family Stress Theory.

Abstract: Some of the discrepancies between observations made of family behavior under stress and the family stress theory literature to date result from the tendency to emphasize adaptation to stress as an intrafamily process. Analysis of three studies of coping and adaptation in the face of family separations reveals that the family is called upon to both react and actively employ coping behaviors within the family system and in relationship to the community. The analysis reveals specific coping behaviors which vary according to the severity of the stress on the family unit and underscores the value of viewing coping behavior as an integral part of Hill's B Factor -Family Resources-in family stress theory. Five propositions are offered and discussed in the advancement of research and theory construction.

Comprehension Monitoring: Identifying and Coping with Text Confusions

Abstract: Comprehension monitoring was investigated by asking college students to read and answer probed recall questions about passages that contained intentional- ly introduced confusions. Subjects were then told that confusions had been present and were asked to describe them and comment on how they affected comprehension. Subjects faile'd to report a surprisingly large proportion of the confusions. Confusions involving main points were detected more frequently than those involving details and confusions of inconsistent information and unclear reference were more often reported than inappropriate connectives. Retrospective reports revealed that failures to report confusions were often not due to failures to monitor comprehension but rather to the use of repair stategies to resolve the potential problems. A renewed interest in the cognitive processes underlying reading has stimulated much speculation about comprehension monitoring (e.g., Anderson, in press; Baker, Note 1; Brown, in press; Deese, 1969; Flaveli, 1978, Note 4; Markman, 1977, 1979, Note 5; Miller, 1976;-Rumelhart, in press). Comprehension monitoring involves the evaluation and regulation of one's own ongoing comprehension processes. To evaluate is to keep track of the success with which comprehension is proceeding, and to regulate is to ensure that the process continues smoothly, including taking remedial action when comprehension fails. Readers who successfully monitor their comprehension of text know when they understand, when they don't understand, and when they partially understand. In addition, they know to test whether their understanding is adequate for the purpose at hand and how to deal with comprehen- sion difficulties. Comprehension monitoring has been studied indirectly by asking people to reflect on their comprehension processes, either as they were reading a passage (Olshavsky, 1976-77; Olson, Duffy & Mack, Note 6), or after they had finished reading it (Collins, Brown, & Larkin, in press; Smith, 1967; Strang & Rogers, 1965). These experiments support Thorndike's (1917) view of reading as a problem solving process and, further, suggest that poor readers do not monitor their comprehension as effectively as good readers.

Life events, coping, stress, and depressive symptomatology.

Abstract: The author presents data on the relationships between life events, coping resources, and depressive symptomatology. A probability sample (N = 517) was interviewed three years apart. Respondents with high life-event scores had significantly more depressive symptomatology than those with low scores. Those with personal, familial, and interpersonal resources had significantly less depressive symptomatology than those without such resources in both the low- and high-life-event groups. The best predictor of Time 2 depressive symptom scores was Time 1 symptom scores; losses and resources were also statistically significant factors. These findings demonstrate the complex interrelatedness of life events, coping resources, and depressive symptomatology.

Resentful and reflective coping with arbitrary authority and blood pressure: Detroit.

Abstract: Two hypotheses about coping with an arbitrary authority, an angry boss, were tested: (1) styles of handling anger vary with social status, and (2) these styles are in turn related to blood pressure levels Two styles of coping were tested: model R-R, Resentful vs Reflective, and model I/O/R, Anger-In, Anger-Out, and Reflective Handling an angry boss by Reflection is reported by more women than men, by those in middle-class areas rather than lower class, and does not vary by race Working class report more use of Anger-Out than middle class who in turn report more use of Reflection In general, the Anger-In response did not vary by race, sex, or area of residence (12-18%) For model R-R, Reflection of boss's anger was related to lower blood pressure when compared to Resentful responses, within sex, race, and residence groups For model I/O/R, working-class, high stress persons who expressed Anger-Out showed the highest mean levels Reflection is an appraisal response related to vascular and neural deceleration in stress experiments This mode can be learned, and may aid in handling daily emotional-loaded stimuli to control blood pressure, along with learning a relaxation response

The work of worrying in children undergoing surgery

Abstract: This study examined the relationship involving children's level of anxiety, defensiveness, and play patterns 1 week prior to, during, and 1 week after hospitalization for minor surgery. A 7-month follow up was also conducted in order to assess the children's recall for hospital events and coping style. The results suggested that two classes of children could be identified. The children in one group distinguished themselves in terms of their disposition to engage in the “work of worrying” (i.e., were low defensive prior to hospitalization, actively played with stress-related toys prior to hospitalization, and reported minimal distress and anxiety following surgery). Those in the second group were highly defensive, avoided playing with stress-related toys, and reported most anxiety following surgery. The parallel between children and adult patterns of dealing with surgery was considered in terms of Janis's (1958) model of coping with psychological stress.

Life Change Events and Mental Illness: An Overview

Abstract: The use of recent life change measurement in the lives of persons developing mental disorders parallels the measurement of risk factors by epidemiologists to understand disease distribution. Examples are given of these parallels, along with critical commentary on methodological issues in life changes research. The principal studies documenting the association of recent life change and depression, schizophrenia, and neurosis are reviewed. Recent life changes appear to be an important element in explaining illness onset. Future advances in the area of life change and illness await the development of reliable and valid measures of an individual's stress tolerance characteristics, such as social support systems, psychological defenses, coping capabilities, and illness behavior tendencies.

Psychological stress, ego defenses, and cortisol production in children hospitalized for elective surgery.

Abstract: This study was designed to investigate the relationship between the effectiveness of coping mechanisms and physiological indicators of distress in children faced with the experience of hospitalization and surgery. Twenty-five children between the ages of 7 and 11 were studied in the out-patient department, 2 weeks before surgery, and again during their hospital stay. Effectiveness of defenses and defense style was measured by a clinical interview and by the Rorschach test. Cortisol production rates were measured by the analysis of 24-hour urine collections at home and again in the hospital. Ward adjustment was also rated by a ward questionnaire. The results indicated no relationship between defense effectiveness and cortisol production rates in the out-patient department and an inverse relationship between cortisol production and defense effectiveness under the stress of hospitalization. Defense style was found to correlate with coping under stress. Four different groups of children emerged, suggesting four different types of reaction to the hospital experience.

Help‐seeking behavior in families of schizophrenics

Abstract: To meet the exigencies of coping with the onset of schizophrenia in the family, caregivers sought out an array of professional and nonprofessional supports. The respondents to a questionnaire, all members of a self-help group, reported considerable merit to the help of friends, relatives, and group members. In contrast, the various forms of therapy were valued little; nearly half found no value at all. These findings are better understood when needs of families are expressed. Of highest priority are understanding of the illness, practical guidance in patient management, and community resources such as housing. These are not typical functions of therapy. Self-help groups may serve these needs better.

Child Abuse Related to Life Change and Perceptions of Illness: Some Preliminary Findings.

Abstract: A total of 40 parents from child abuse and matched control families were examined for variation on life change scores, perceptions of physical and emotional health and punitiveness of their own parents. Abusive parents had higher life change scores, more numerous perceptions of emotional physical ill health and a more punitive childhood than their matched controls. Particularly significant from a theoretical standpoint is the statistical interaction between life change and childhood punishment. Abusive parents were far more likely than controls to experience both rapid life change and a history of punitive childrearing. While not conclusive, the data are shown to be consistent with a social learning explanation of child abuse. Some implications for clinical practice are discussed.

The corporate executive wife's coping patterns in response to routine husband-father absence

Abstract: The routine absence of corporate executive husband/fathers in intact families is a variation of father absence. Though not prolonged, frequent exits and reentries may stress the family system. To determine how nonclinical family members deal with routine father absence, a coping inventory was administered to 66 corporate wives. Factor analysis revealed wives coped with the stress of routine father absence by (a) fitting into the corporate lifestyle; (b) developing self; and (c) establishing independence. Though a pilot study, findings offer empirical support for a premise more traditionally accepted by family therapists than by family sociologists: Individual psychological variables need to be considered along with systems variables in the development of family stress theory.

The Development of Coping Style

Abstract: The author reviews theoretical background, and the methodological basis of cross-cultural studies on American and Mexican children regarding development of coping style. He concludes that there is enough evidence to take seriously the existence of culture-typed coping styles.

Coping with cancer through self-instruction: a hypothesis.

Abstract: Because most cancer patients seem to cope well with the stresses of their illness, including the psychosocial ramifications, it is important to understand what good copers manage to do, as opposed to those patients who simply defend themselves against persistent problems. This requires making a radical distinction between coping and defending, as well as between healthy adaptive resources and latent pathological dispositions. A case report is presented to illustrate how one “supercoper” solved problems by self-instruction. While cognitive self-instruction may not be applicable for every cancer patient and all problems, it is a working hypothesis deserving of further investigation, since self-control and personal responsibility are essential elements in rehabilitation on all levels. One intervention model for “high distress” cancer patients is outlined.

Helping police officers to cope with stress: a cognitive--behavioral approach.

Abstract: Police Academy trainees participated in a stress management program which focused on developing skills for coping with anxiety and anger. Stress management training took place in six 2-hour sessions and included instruction and practice in the self-monitoring of reactions to stressful situations, muscular relaxation, and the development of adaptive self-statements. Self-report measures of anxiety and anger were obtained before and after the stress management program. In addition, self and observer ratings of trainees' performance in stressful simulated police activities were utilized as posttreatment dependent measures. In comparison to a control group of trainees, the performance of the treatment group was rated, by academy personnel, as superior in several of the simulated police activities. The results of the present study suggest that stress management with law enforcement officers may be most effective when the program focuses on the specific situations which are likely to be encountered by trainees. Limitations of the present program are examined and suggestions for future efforts with law enforcement personnel are discussed.

A Report from the Kauai Longitudinal Study

Abstract: Interaction effects of perinatal stress and quality of family environment are reported for a multiracial cohort of 660 children born on the island of Kauai and followed from the prenatal period to age 18. Antecedents and consequences of childhood mental health problems and learning disabilities illustrate the relationship between social class and vulnerability, the likelihood of persistence of childhood disorders with strong biological and temperamental underpinnings, the pervasive effects of quality of early caretaker-child transactions, the importance of an internal locus of control and communication skills in coping with emotional and academic problems, and the resiliency of most children.

Assertiveness, locus of control and coping behaviors used to diminish tension.

Abstract: To investigate how coping behaviors may be preconditioned by assertiveness and locus of control, a questionnaire was given to 133 undergraduates of whom 87% reported recent tension attributed mainly to academic pressures. From a list of 22 common coping reactions, the students were asked to check those they use to deal with their tensions. The coping responses were also correlated with scores on an assertiveness inventory (AES) and Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control (I-E) Scale. Reliance on one's own initiatives and turning to significant others were the responses most frequently reported as reactions to tension while seeking professional help was ranked last. Male students more frequently reported using marijuana or seeking sexual comfort than females, while females more frequently reported dysfunctional reactions such as spending endless hours thinking about the problem. The AES correlated significantly with problem-solving approaches. The IE Scale showed internals more inclined to meditate; externals indicated a greater likelihood to seek professional help, fantasize, or drink alcohol.