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The relationship between beliefs about depression and coping strategies: gender differences
Morgen A R Kelly1, Susan M Sereika, Deena R Battista
1University at Buffalo, State University of New York and VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, USA. kellym2@upmc.edu
The British Journal of Clinical Psychology
|May 31, 2007
Summary
Depression beliefs influence coping strategies, with emotional reactions linked to maladaptive coping for both genders. Women also show links between perceived control and adaptive coping.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Medical Sociology
Background:
- Leventhal's common-sense model of illness representation offers a framework for understanding illness beliefs and coping.
- Exploring the interplay between beliefs about depressive illness and coping strategies is crucial for patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between beliefs about depression and coping strategies in primary care patients.
- To examine gender differences in how illness representations influence coping.
Main Methods:
- Self-report measures of beliefs about depression, emotional reactions, medication beliefs, and coping strategies were collected.
- Canonical correlation analysis was used to examine associations between sets of variables.
- Data from 189 depressed primary care patients (70.4% female) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Emotional reaction to depression significantly influenced coping strategies for both men and women, correlating with maladaptive coping.
- Women demonstrated additional associations: greater perceived control over depression linked to adaptive coping, and perceived consequences linked to problem-solving strategies.
Conclusions:
- Beliefs about depression are preliminarily evidenced to be related to adopted coping styles.
- Gender differences may exist in how perceptions of depression shape coping strategies.
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