TY - JOUR
T1 - The stability of coping strategies in older adults with osteoarthritis and the ability of these strategies to predict changes in depression, disability, and pain
AU - Regier, Natalie G.
AU - Parmelee, Patricia A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Taylor & Francis.
PY - 2015/12/2
Y1 - 2015/12/2
N2 - Objectives: Given the chronically painful, incurable nature of osteoarthritis, effective cognitive and behavioral coping strategies may be critical for older adults with the disease. Little is known about how and why coping changes over time, nor about stability of coping strategies in persons with osteoarthritis. The aims of this work were to examine the structure of coping in older adults with osteoarthritis, the association of coping strategies with well-being, the stability of coping over time, and its association with changes in well-being over the same period.Method: In a cross-sectional study, 199 older adults with osteoarthritis of the knee were assessed at baseline and two-years follow-up. Items from two coping scales were factor analyzed, and Pearson's correlations and paired-samples t-Tests assessed relative and absolute stability of the resultant coping strategies. CFA assessed the stability of the factor structure itself. Ordinary least-squares regression analyses examined the impact of change in coping on well-being.Results: A five-factor coping solution emerged: stoicism, refocusing, problem-solving, wishful-Thinking, and emotion-focused coping. The factor structure showed stability over the two-year period. Absolute stability of strategies varied, indicating that change in coping styles was possible.Conclusion: Changes in coping style predicts future well-being; however, coping remains malleable with age and maladaptive strategies can be effectively targeted. Greater knowledge of the utility or maladaptive nature of a given strategy may help guide decisions about interventions for patients with osteoarthritis and encourage more adaptive coping styles.
AB - Objectives: Given the chronically painful, incurable nature of osteoarthritis, effective cognitive and behavioral coping strategies may be critical for older adults with the disease. Little is known about how and why coping changes over time, nor about stability of coping strategies in persons with osteoarthritis. The aims of this work were to examine the structure of coping in older adults with osteoarthritis, the association of coping strategies with well-being, the stability of coping over time, and its association with changes in well-being over the same period.Method: In a cross-sectional study, 199 older adults with osteoarthritis of the knee were assessed at baseline and two-years follow-up. Items from two coping scales were factor analyzed, and Pearson's correlations and paired-samples t-Tests assessed relative and absolute stability of the resultant coping strategies. CFA assessed the stability of the factor structure itself. Ordinary least-squares regression analyses examined the impact of change in coping on well-being.Results: A five-factor coping solution emerged: stoicism, refocusing, problem-solving, wishful-Thinking, and emotion-focused coping. The factor structure showed stability over the two-year period. Absolute stability of strategies varied, indicating that change in coping styles was possible.Conclusion: Changes in coping style predicts future well-being; however, coping remains malleable with age and maladaptive strategies can be effectively targeted. Greater knowledge of the utility or maladaptive nature of a given strategy may help guide decisions about interventions for patients with osteoarthritis and encourage more adaptive coping styles.
KW - Osteoarthritis
KW - chronic pain
KW - coping stability
KW - depression
KW - disability
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U2 - 10.1080/13607863.2014.1003286
DO - 10.1080/13607863.2014.1003286
M3 - Article
C2 - 25658300
AN - SCOPUS:84940960525
SN - 1360-7863
VL - 19
SP - 1113
EP - 1122
JO - Aging and Mental Health
JF - Aging and Mental Health
IS - 12
ER -