Identification of stressors and use of coping methods in chronic hemodialysis patients

To explore relationships among treatment-related stressors, coping methods, and length of time on hemodialysis the Baldree, Murphy, and Powers (1982) study was replicated. Sixty-eight subjects completed the Hemodialysis Stressor Scale and the Jalowiec Coping Scale. Although Baldree et al. reported no significant difference in ratings of physiological and psychosocial stressors, results of this study showed that physiological stressors were more troublesome than psychosocial stressors, t = 10.85, p less than .0001. Subjects used problem-oriented coping more often than affective methods to handle stress, t = 10.93, p less than .0001, supporting the Baldree et al. findings. The results did not duplicate previous study findings of no significant relationships between stressor and coping scores. Total hemodialysis stressor scores were related to total coping scores, r = .43, and physiological stressors to affective coping, r = .38. However, psychosocial stressors were associated with affective-oriented, r = .43, and problem-oriented coping, r = .33. Length of time of hemodialysis was associated with problem-oriented coping, r = .26.