title: Coping mediates the relationship between disease severity and illness intrusiveness among chronically ill patients.
abstract: Reducing perceptions of illness intrusiveness may improve quality of life and mental health among patients with cardiopulmonary disease. To better understand relationships between coping style, locus of control, perceived illness intrusiveness, and disease severity, we analyzed data from 227 older Veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or congestive heart failure. Regressions revealed illness intrusiveness to be associated with younger age and greater disease severity, less internal locus of control, and avoidant/emotion-focused coping. Avoidant/emotion-focused coping but not active coping mediated the relationship between illness severity and illness intrusiveness. Findings suggest that supportive psychological interventions may reduce illness intrusiveness by targeting an avoidant/emotion-focused coping style and associated behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC), USA Baylor College of Medicine, USA VA South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, USA Natalie.Hundt@va.gov.
authors.forename: Natalie E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Hundt
authors.affiliation: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, USA Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bensadon
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC), USA Baylor College of Medicine, USA VA South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Melinda A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC), USA Baylor College of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC), USA Baylor College of Medicine, USA VA South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kunik
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC), USA Baylor College of Medicine, USA VA South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kauth
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC), USA Baylor College of Medicine, USA VA South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cully
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology
keywords: chronic disease; coping; illness intrusiveness; locus of control