Maladaptive coping with illness in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate associations between active and passive coping, psychiatric symptoms of depression and anxiety, and quality of life in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). To assess the relative contribution of these coping strategies to reduced quality of life in an attempt to clarify the possible relevance of coping for impaired psychosocial well-being in PCOS.


METHODS
Internet-based survey.


METHODS
448 German women with PCOS.


METHODS
Coping (Freiburg Questionnaire of Coping-with-Illness), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]), and quality of life (Short Form 12 Health Survey [SF-12]) were assessed in an Internet-based survey. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted.


RESULTS
In women with PCOS, passive coping was significantly associated with greater anxiety (r= .65; p < .001), depression (r= .61; p < .001), and reduced psychological quality of life (r=-.64, p < .001). In stepwise multiple regression analyses, passive coping, together with depression, anxiety and body mass index (BMI), explained 50.1% of the SF-12 psychological sum score, while active coping did not enter any regression model.


CONCLUSIONS
Data suggested that faced with the diagnosis of PCOS, passive coping may constitute a maladaptive strategy associated with anxiety and depression symptoms and compromised quality of life. Hence, efforts to incorporate psychosocial aspects into counselling and care for women with PCOS should take coping strategies into consideration. Nurses and other health care providers may help to improve coping strategies through education and psychosocial support in women with PCOS.
Benson
Sven
S
Institute of Medical Psychology & Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.. Electronic address: sven.benson@uk-essen.de.
Hahn
Susanne
S
Endocrinologist in endocrine practice in Wuppertal, Germany.
Tan
Susanne
S
Resident in the Department of Endocrinology and Division of Laboratory Research, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany.
Janssen
Onno E
OE
Endocrinologist in the Endokrinologikum Hamburg Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Hamburg, Germany.
Schedlowski
Manfred
M
Institute of Medical Psychology & Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany.
Elsenbruch
Sigrid
S
Institute of Medical Psychology & Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, Germany.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003376:Counseling; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008960:Models, Psychological; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires