Clinical and sociodemographic factors predict coping styles among adults with sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) presents a significant physical and psychological burden for persons with this chronic disease; however, little is known about how individuals with SCD--adult patients in particular--cope with disease-related stressors. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize factors that may influence the styles of coping among adults with SCD.

The study sample included 46 adult patients with SCD-20 men and 26 women--with an average age of 32.04 years (range, 18-59). Patients completed a computer-based questionnaire that included measures of sociodemographics and the COPE, a measure of coping styles. End organ damage disease severity scores and frequency of hospitalizations were obtained from patients' medical records.

Education was negatively associated with use of denial (r = -0.35; p = .017) and positively associated with use of planning (r = .29, p = .045). However, age, type of SCD, end organ damage, and frequency of hospitalizations were not associated with patient coping. There were significant gender differences in coping, with women reporting greater use of venting, positive reframing, and religion as coping strategies than men (all p < .05). Women also tended to use more planning, emotional support, and acceptance than men (all p < .10). These associations were not moderated by age, type of SCD, disease severity, or hospitalizations. Further, these gender differences were not better explained by differences in SCD experience.

These findings suggest that in patients reporting similar experiences with SCD, coping differs by education and gender. Moreover, these differences in coping cannot be explained by clinical factors such as end organ damage and health care utilization. Sickle cell disease (SCD) presents a significant physical and psychological burden for persons with this chronic disease; however, little is known about how individuals with SCD--adult patients in particular--cope with disease-related stressors. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize factors that may influence the styles of coping among adults with SCD.