The success of these strategies involves the interaction of a host of factors, such as personality characteristics of the individual, environmental and social contexts, and differences in the types and severity of varying health conditions. He also observed that the experiences and resources that people acquire over their lifespans can facilitate or inhibit successful coping. Participants talked, often emotionally, about such issues as depression and fatigue, difficulty with sleep, constant pain, fear of death, and the debilitating effects of diabetes and vision loss, he said. A variety of coping strategies came up in the groups, such as exercising, praying, pacing one's energies, helping others, staying busy and maintaining a sense of humor. Some people have many different diseases and no problems coping.
Poon plans to ask next.