Tinnitus coping style and its relationship to tinnitus severity and emotional distress

The structure of the Tinnitus Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ) is examined in a sample of 108 tinnitus sufferers. Factor analysis of the TCSQ items identified two coping styles that were termed "effective coping" and "maladaptive coping". It is shown that "maladaptive coping," but not "effective coping," is related to reports of subjective tinnitus severity and emotional distress. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.