Coping and psychological adjustment in recent-onset inflammatory polyarthritis: the role of gender and age.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the role of gender, age and coping in psychological adjustment of patients with early inflammatory polyarthritis (IP).


METHODS
One hundred and twelve patients with IP of up to 18 months' duration from the Norfolk Arthritis Register completed questionnaires measuring coping, anxiety, disability and pain.


RESULTS
Thirty-six per cent of the patients were at risk of depressive symptoms. Women had significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety than men. Regression analyses showed that pain and (low) illness acceptance predicted levels of depression. Younger age, wishful thinking and covering up predicted anxiety levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The study found higher levels of depression and anxiety for women than men with early IP. Psychological distress was predicted by younger age, specific coping strategies and high levels of pain.
Ramjeet
J
J
School of Nursing and Midwifery Research Unit, Yorkon Building, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK. J.Ramjeet@uea.ac.uk
Koutantji
M
M
Barrett
E M
EM
Scott
D G I
DG
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012042:Registries; D012737:Sex Factors