title: Maladaptive coping with illness in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Psychology & Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.. Electronic address: sven.benson@uk-essen.de.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.affiliation: Endocrinologist in endocrine practice in Wuppertal, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.affiliation: Resident in the Department of Endocrinology and Division of Laboratory Research, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Endocrinologist in the Endokrinologikum Hamburg Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Onno E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Psychology & Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schedlowski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Psychology & Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elsenbruch
mesh_terms: 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