J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2015 May;54(2):181-187. 10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.2.181.

Stress Coping Strategies and Quality of Life in Patients with Schizophrenia

• Lim M
• Sim M
• Chae S
• Lee WH
• Na J
• Kim D

• KMID: 2343897
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.2.181

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aims of this study were to investigate the pattern of stress coping strategies and the effects of stress coping strategies on quality of life in patients with schizophrenia.
METHODS
Stress coping strategies and quality of life were examined using Ways of Coping Checklist and Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale for 98 patients with schizophrenia. Stress coping strategies were composed of problem-focused coping, social support seeking, emotion-focused coping, and wishful thinking. Among these, problem-focused coping and social support seeking were active coping strategies while emotion-focused coping and wishful thinking were passive coping strategies. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) were also administered.
RESULTS
Active coping scores were higher than passive coping scores in patients with schizophrenia. Quality of life was higher in the active coping group compared to the passive coping group. Active coping usage was a significant predictor of higher quality of life even after controlling for gender, age, PANSS, and BDI scores.
CONCLUSION
Patients with schizophrenia used more active coping strategies than passive coping strategies, which showed significant association with higher quality of life. A treatment program to provide education on use of active coping strategies in a proper and flexible way might contribute to enhanced quality of life in patients with schizophrenia.

Keyword

Psychological stress; Coping skills; Quality of life; Schizophrenia

MeSH Terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Checklist
Depression
Education
Humans
Quality of Life*
Schizophrenia*
Stress, Psychological
Thinking

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Comparison of stress coping strategies in patients with schizophrenia. Scores of problem-focused coping and wishful thinking were significantly higher than scores of social support seeking and emotion-focused coping. Emotion-focused coping scores showed significantly lower than other stress coping strategies in patients with schizophrenia (A). Active coping scores (problem-focused coping+social support seeking) were higher than passive coping scores (emotion-focused coping+wishful thinking) (B).

• 

  Fig. 2 Comparison of psychopathology and quality of life between active and passive coping group. Active coping group had significantly higher quality of life than passive coping group (D). There were no significant differences in psychotic symptom and depressive symptom severity between active and passive coping groups (A-C).

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