Relationships between coping, coping resources and quality of life in patients with chronic illness: a pilot study

The original purpose of the study was to determine differences between two groups of patients with chronic illness (ESRD and CHF) regarding the following study variables: coping, sense of coherence (SOC), self-efficacy and quality of life (QOL). Following this, the aim was to explore the relationships between demographic variables (sex, age, educational level and living area) and QOL as well as between coping, SOC, self-efficacy and QOL for the combined sample of patients with ESRD and CHF.

A comparative and correlative design was used with a sample of 100 patients (n = 41 ESRD, n = 59 CHF). The data were collected during 2004, using four standardized questionnaires and regression analyses were conducted.

No significant differences were found between the two groups. Positive correlations were identified between SOC, general self-efficacy and QOL, whereas negative correlations emerge between emotion-focused coping, SOC, general self-efficacy and QOL. SOC, general self-efficacy and emotion-focused coping explained 40% of the variance in QOL. Those with low SOC and general self-efficacy showed negative correlations between emotion-focused coping and QOL, whereas no such correlations were shown for those with high values on SOC and general self-efficacy.

The present results on coping and QOL correspond with previous research regarding how other groups with chronic illness handled their daily life. Preliminary results indicate that how individuals tackle their present situation is more important than which chronic illness they have. Women used more emotion-focused coping than men, which constitute an important finding for further research.