Coping strategies, emotional distress and perceived disease severity in a cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a mediation analysis.
Rheumatology (Oxford)
; 62(3): 1078-1086, 2023 03 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35920782
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
Few data are available on the role of emotional distress as a possible mediator of the relationship between coping strategies and the Patient Global Assessment (PGA). This study aims to investigate, in a large cohort of patients affected by RA, the relationship between specific copying strategies and PGA, and the role of emotional distress as a mediator.METHODS:
A total of 490 patients with RA completed a set of standardized assessments including the self-reported PGA, the Coping Orientation to the Problems Experienced (COPE-NVI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A mediation analysis was conducted to investigate the role of emotional distress.RESULTS:
The effect of coping strategies on the PGA score was significantly mediated by the emotional distress for religious (total effect mediated 42.0%), planning (total effect mediated 17.5%), behavioural disengagement (total effect mediated 10.5%), and focus on and venting of emotions (total effect mediated 9.8%). Seven coping strategies (acceptance, positive reinterpretation and growth, active coping, denial, humour, substance use-mental disengagement) resulted directly associated to PGA total score, but no mediation effect was found. The remaining four coping strategies were not associated to the PGA score.CONCLUSION:
This study suggests that coping strategies could be an important factor in the perceived disease severity. Consequently, in order to reduce PGA in patients with RA, a useful tool could be represented by the implementation of psychological interventions aiming to modify the specific coping styles. Moreover, to prevent or treat emotional distress seems to further reduce PGA.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Artrite Reumatoide
/
Angústia Psicológica
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Rheumatology (Oxford)
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article