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Stress and coping in early psychosis

Role of symptoms, self-efficacy, and social support in coping with stress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2018

Elspeth M. MacDonald ,
Simone Pica ,
Shelley McDonald ,
Robyn L. Hayes  and
Anthony J. Baglioni Jr
Elspeth M. MacDonald
Affiliation:
School of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University Bundoora, Australia
Simone Pica
Affiliation:
Centre for Young People's Mental Health, Parkville, Australia
Shelley McDonald
Affiliation:
Centre for Young People's Mental Health, Parkville, Australia
Robyn L. Hayes
Affiliation:
Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
Anthony J. Baglioni Jr
Affiliation:
Social Sciences Group, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
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Abstract

Background Although coping with stress is important in early psychosis, little is known about how this population copes with the range of stressors they encounter in their daily life. This study aims to identify how people with early psychosis cope with a range of stressful situations and to identify what factors might influence their use of coping strategies.

Method Participants included a clinical group of 50 people with early psychosis and a non-clinical group of 22 people matched on age and gender. Data were obtained on symptomatology and social support for the clinical group, and stress and coping, and self-efficacy for all participants.

Results The clinical group reported coping less well than the non-clinical group and they most commonly used emotion-focused coping. For the clinical group, effective coping correlated with less severe negative symptoms, greater perceived self-efficacy social support and greater use of problem-focused coping. Self-efficacy and social support predicted increased frequency of the use of problem-focused coping.

Conclusion People with early psychosis who have greater feelings of self-efficacy and perceived social support, and the flexible use of problem-focused coping strategies, appear to be more likely to cope with day-to-day stressors.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 172 , Issue S33: Verging on reality , June 1998 , pp. 122 - 127
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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