title: A molecular view of coping behavior in older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess age, gender, ethnicity, and education differences in specific ("molecular") coping behaviors for three older adult age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five specific coping reactions were assessed on the item level for 74 sexagenarians, 70 octogenarians, and 116 centenarians of the Georgia Centenarian Study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A multivariate analysis of covariance revealed significant age group, gender, and education differences for 14 coping reactions.  Four items were affected exclusively by age; five were affected only by gender; and three were affected only by education.  One item showed age group and education differences; another showed gender and education differences.  No ethnicity differences were obtained.  The largest effect for an age group difference was found for accepting health problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that a molecular view of specific coping behaviors in reaction to health problems, in addition to global measures of coping, is essential.
authors.affiliation: Iowa State University, USA. pxmartin@iastate.edu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rott
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Courtenay
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lehr
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States