The role of coping resources and coping style in quality of life of patients with asthma or COPD.
OBJECTIVE
Sufficient psychosocial coping resources and an adequate coping style may have a beneficial influence on quality of life in patients with a chronic disease. Until now little research has been directed at these associations and particularly not among patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of this study is to examine the association between psychosocial coping resources and coping style with HRQoL, for asthma and COPD separately.


METHODS
Fourteen general practitioners in The Netherlands recruited 273 adult patients with asthma (n = 220) or COPD (n = 53). Data were collected by a pulmonary function assessment, a face-to-face interview and validated questionnaires about psychosocial coping resources (self-efficacy, mastery, self-esteem, and social support), coping style (avoidant, rational and emotional), and health related quality of life (HRQoL).


RESULTS
A more emotional coping style (p < 0.01) was independently associated with poor HRQoL in both asthma and COPD patients. Furthermore, in asthma patients, less self-efficacy feelings (p < 0.01), less mastery feelings (p = 0.05), a more avoidant coping style (p = 0.04) and poor pulmonary function (p < 0.01) were independently associated with poor HRQoL. In COPD patients, a more rational coping style (p = 0.02) was independently associated with poor HRQoL.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that psychosocial coping resources and coping style are independently associated with HRQoL in patients with asthma or COPD. Further research should explore the possibilities of intervening on these factors, aiming to improve HRQoL in patients with asthma or COPD.
Hesselink
A E
AE
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine (EMGO Institute), Department of General Practice, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ae.hesselink.emgo@med.vu.nl
Penninx
B W J H
BW
Schlösser
M A G
MA
Wijnhoven
H A H
HA
van der Windt
D A W M
DA
Kriegsman
D M W
DM
van Eijk
J Th M
JT
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011320:Primary Health Care; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012944:Social Support