Use of coping strategies in MND/ALS: Association with demographic and disease-related characteristics



Schluter, Daniela K, Holland, David P, Mills, Roger J, McDermott, Christopher J, Williams, Timothy L and Young, Carolyn A ORCID: 0000-0001-6971-8203
(2019) Use of coping strategies in MND/ALS: Association with demographic and disease-related characteristics. ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, 140 (2). pp. 131-139.

[img] Text
Schlueter_etal_revised_cleaned.docx - Author Accepted Manuscript

Download (224kB)

Abstract

<h4>Objective</h4>Understanding the use of coping strategies and which factors are associated with strategy utilization might help clinical staff anticipate which coping strategies individuals are more likely to utilize. In this study, we assess coping strategy use in the motor neuron disease (MND, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS]) population and examine associations of demographic and disease variables with individual coping strategies.<h4>Participants and methods</h4>A total of 233 participants with MND/ALS were recruited into the ongoing Trajectories of Outcomes in Neurological Conditions study from MND clinics across the United Kingdom. Participants completed a questionnaire pack collecting data on demographics and a range of patient-reported measures including the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced scale. Associations between demographic and clinical characteristics and coping strategies were examined by simple and multiple ordinal logistic regression.<h4>Results</h4>The most commonly used strategy was Acceptance, followed by Active Coping, Planning and Positive Re-interpretation and Growth. The least used strategies were Substance Use, Turning to Religion and Denial. Ten out of the fifteen strategies showed statistically significant associations with demographic and clinical characteristics. Most markedly, females were found to utilize many strategies more than males, namely Restraint, Seeking Instrumental Social Support, Seeking Emotional Social Support, Focus on and Venting of Emotions, Behavioural Disengagement and Mental Disengagement.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Clinical staff should be aware that coping strategy use is associated with several demographic and disease characteristics. Targeted advice on coping may improve coping capacity and facilitate psychosocial adjustment.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, coping, motor neuron disease, psychological adjustment, quality of life, TONiC
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 13 Nov 2019 15:07
Last Modified: 19 Jan 2023 00:20
DOI: 10.1111/ane.13113
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3061780