title: Coping and disability: evidence from a developing country.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In view of the increasing burden of musculoskeletal-related disability, the growing number of older persons and the scarcity of research on musculoskeletal conditions in the Eastern Mediterranean region, coping with musculoskeletal problems deserves special attention. This paper examines how good coping links to musculoskeletal-related disability among Lebanese citizens aged 15 years and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample included 200 people living in southern Lebanon and who participated in the Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) survey. Disability and coping were assessed using self-reported questions. Covariates included demographics, musculoskeletal pain variables, and body mass index (BMI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Around one-third of the sample had lifetime functional disability due to musculoskeletal problems and 62% were coping well with their problems. Adjusted data showed that the odds of musculoskeletal-related disability among individuals who were not coping well was 2.35 times the odds of disability among individuals who were coping well with 95% CI = 1.10-5.02.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence of the importance of complementing pharmacological treatment with a cognitive-behavioral approach for management of musculoskeletal problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Zeinab N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Slim
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dowli
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaaya
authors.forename: Ziyad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mahfoud
authors.forename: Imad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Uthman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055809:Illness Behavior; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology