Stress and coping of family members responsible for nursing home placement

The purpose of this exploratory study, based on the stress and coping framework of Folkman and Lazarus, was to describe relationships among stress appraisal, coping, and characteristics of individuals responsible for older adults recently placed in nursing homes. One hundred individuals completed an information form, emotion stress appraisal, and a revised Ways of Coping instrument by mail. Multiple regression analysis of 16 respondent characteristics showed significant contribution of 8 variables to 4 stress appraisal types (threat, harm, challenge, benefit) and 11 variables to 8 ways of coping. Visit frequency accounted for highest degree of variance in all appraisals. Stress appraisal accounted for most variance in coping. Implications for design and testing of nursing interventions are suggested.