[The sociology of coping with disease--questions, prerequisites, research approach and general practice significance]

Coping is reflected on a social scientific view. Starting points: 1. the knowledge, that alone the kind and grade of disease not predistine the reactions, loads and quality of life of the patient and 2. the unknowledge about the fact, why patients "better" than other cope this critical living situation. Our position is, that social conditions and individual competences are important facts which determine the experience of chronic disease. The attention of sociological research is directed to a classical problem: What does social competences and social support mean for coping of disease? The article discuss theoretical foundations and it's empirical and practical transformation. It is a contribution of interdisciplinary cooperation between sociologists, psychologists and physicians to the problem of coping of chronical disease.