[The influence of stroke laterality on coping with stroke outcome]

Objective of this study was to asses the influence of coping activities on stroke disability- and handicap-outcomes. Of special interest was to investigate if and how the variable "side of lesion" influenced the relationship between coping activities and outcomes. 105 stroke patients (50 women, 55 men, mean age 71.1 years) were investigated. The coping activities of the stroke patients were investigated with the "Freiburg Questionnaire of Coping with Illness" (PQCI). The Disability Outcomes were investigated with the "Depression Status Inventory" (DSI) and the "Self Concept Scale for General Feelings of Self Worth". The Handicap-Outcomes were investigated with the "Perceived Quality of Life Scale" (PQoL) and the "Oxford Handicap Scale" (OHS). Unaffected by the side of lesion, depressive coping showed negative influences on the investigated outcomes. The strategy "trivialization and wishful thinking" intensified significantly the prevailing mood of depression of patients who suffered a right hemisphere stroke. The same negative influence of this strategy was detected on the psycho-social condition of these patients. The influence of the strategies "active and problem-focused coping", "distractive and self-reconstructive coping" and "religious and meaning-searching coping" remained unaffected by the stroke side. These strategies showed no influence on the investigated outcomes. Depressive coping should be avoided.