INTERACTIONS BETWEEN EMOTION-FOCUSED AND PROBLEM-FOCUSED FORMS OF COPING: EFFECTS ON ADJUSTMENT AFTER CARDIAC EVENTS.
Contributors: Kent State University.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 201
Subjects: Psychology, Clinical.; Psychology, Physiological.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The ways in which individuals manage intense emotions associated with cardiac events may affect adaptational outcomes by inhibiting or facilitating the instrumental coping behavior required for successful cardiac rehabilitation. Two types of emotion-focused coping may moderate the relationship between problem-focused coping and outcomes: emotional engagement--emotion regulation that promotes instrumental activity, and emotional disengagement--emotion regulation that impedes instrumental activity. Using data gathered from a sample of 105 male and female cardiac patients referred for cardiac rehabilitation, hierarchical regression analyses examined: (1) the appraisal processes predicting differential use of problem-focused coping and emotional engagement and disengagement coping; (2) the main effects of different forms of coping on immediate and long-term outcomes; and (3) interactions between problem-focused coping and emotional engagement and disengagement indicative of moderation effects. Age differences in appraisal, coping, and outcomes were also examined. Outcomes included coping satisfaction, perceived health, physical and psychosocial impairment, positive and negative affect, rehabilitation attendance, and adherence to lifestyle changes.

Results indicated that appraisals of higher stress severity consistently predicted the use of disengagement and indirect problem-focused coping, while appraisals of controllability had no predictive utility. Regarding main effects of coping, problem-focused coping alone predicted immediate coping satisfaction. Disengagement early in recovery predicted increased long-term physical impairment, and engagement predicted increased long-term negative affect. Regarding moderation effects, problem-focused coping had no effect on long-term outcomes independent of the effects of emotion-focused coping. Significant interactions were found for immediate coping satisfaction, long-term physical impairment, and long-term perceptions of physical health, with engagement and disengagement having both positive and negative effects depending on the outcome examined. No age differences in stress appraisals or outcomes were noted, although older adults tended to use less problem-focused coping later in recovery. Practical and theoretical implications and limitations of the study are discussed.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-10, Section: B, page: 5540.

Thesis (PH.D.)--KENT STATE UNIVERSITY, 1991.

School code: 0101.