Psychological adjustment to systemic sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the role of demographic, disability, appraisal, and coping variables in predicting psychological adjustment in individuals with systemic sclerosis.


METHODS
Two hundred forty-two individuals with systemic sclerosis (SSc; diffuse and limited) were surveyed by mail. Demographics, functional disability, pain, control appraisals, 8 types of coping, and individual psychosocial adjustment were assessed by self-report questionnaires with established reliability and validity.


RESULTS
In regression analysis, 3 coping strategies emerged as significant predictors of adjustment: Wishful Thinking, Blaming Self, and Problem-Focused Coping. Self-reports of disability and control appraisals were also significant predictors. Collectively, 46% of the variance in adjustment was explained by these 5 predictor variables. The strongest predictor of overall adjustment was wishful thinking, explaining 22% of the variance in adjustment.


CONCLUSIONS
Potentially modifiable appraisal and coping variables, along with disease-related disability, appear to play an important role in predicting adjustment to SSc, while demographic variables explained little of the variability in patient adjustment.
Malcarne
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Greenbergs
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D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005201:Fantasy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011340:Problem Solving; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires