Coping with psychosomatic symptoms: The buffering role of psychological flexibility and impact on quality of life.
Individual differences in avoidant coping were hypothesized to exacerbate quality of life impairment associated with somatization and illness anxiety symptoms; psychological flexibility was expected to moderate this impairment. Individuals from a random community sample ( N = 298; 182 females), who met screening criteria for somatization and illness anxiety, reported lower quality of life and psychological flexibility and greater avoidant coping compared to controls. Psychological flexibility significantly moderated the impact of somatization and illness anxiety on quality of life domains. Findings suggest that decreasing avoidant coping through therapy may be promising in mitigating the negative impact of these symptom categories.
University of Cyprus, Cyprus.
Chrysanthi
C
Leonidou
University of Cyprus, Cyprus.
Georgia
G
Panayiotou
University of Cyprus, Cyprus.
Aspasia
A
Bati
University of Cyprus, Cyprus.
Maria
M
Karekla
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000523:psychology; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
coping; experiential avoidance; health anxiety; psychological flexibility; psychosomatic symptoms