Coping in spouses of patients with acute myocardial infarction in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the usage and perceived effectiveness of coping strategies of spouses of patients with acute myocardial infarction in Taiwan, the Republic of China, during the acute phase of the illness.


METHODS
Survey.


METHODS
Visitors room for a coronary care unit in Taiwan, the Republic of China.


METHODS
Twenty-one female and 10 male spouses of patients with acute myocardial infarction.


METHODS
The Revised Ways of Coping Scale was modified to assess both frequency of use and perceived effectiveness of coping strategies. It was also translated into Chinese.


RESULTS
Seeking Social Support was the most frequently used coping strategy, whereas Confrontive Coping was used the least. There were significant positive relationships between the extent of usage of coping strategies and their perceived effectiveness. Men used Planful Problem-Solving more often and found it be more effective than did women; they also found the Self-Controlling and Accepting Responsibility strategies to be more effective than did women. Older spouses reported the Planful Problem-Solving strategy to be more effective than did younger subjects. The more family members living with a spouse, the less Accepting Responsibility was used as a coping strategy.


CONCLUSIONS
Spouses of patients with acute myocardial infarction in Taiwan, the Republic of China, report using a variety of coping strategies. Those used most often are perceived to be the most effective.
Yeh
M L
ML
University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore.
Gift
A G
AG
Soeken
K L
KL
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology*; D011340:Problem Solving; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013624:Taiwan