The goal of this study was to examine the reaction (anxiety, depression, and helplessness) and adaptive strategies (problem-solving and emotion-reducing) of community-dwelling elderly, confronted by one specific chronic stressor. We have conducted three face-to-face home interviews on a monthly basis with a follow-up interview seven months later. There were 237 psychotropic drug users and non-users, of high or low socio-economic status. Not only were low socio-economic psychotropic drug users more anxious about the targeted hassle of the week, but they also relied on and used more problem-solving strategies than non-drug users. It is suggested that psychotropic drug use be looked at as a strategy like any others rather than as passive behaviour when facing daily hassles. Moreover, using a high number of coping strategies is not synonymous with being good at coping with chronic stress. Various recommandations for clinical intervention are put forward.
