Hinch, R. and Sirois, F.M. orcid.org/0000-0002-0927-277X (2024) A meta‐analysis of coping strategies and psychological distress in rheumatoid arthritis. British Journal of Health Psychology, 29 (3). ISSN 1359-107X
Abstract
Purpose
Theory and research indicate that coping plays a central role in the experience of psychological distress in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study meta-analysed the associations of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies with psychological distress in people with RA to quantify and better understand the proposed differential relationships, as well as the factors that might influence these links.
Methods
Searches of four databases identified eligible studies according to a pre-registered protocol. Two random effects meta-analyses examined the direction and magnitude of the links between adaptive coping (problem-focused and emotional approach coping) and maladaptive coping (emotional avoidance and pre-occupation coping) and psychological distress (stress, anxiety, and depression). Study quality was evaluated using a bespoke tool. Moderator analyses for sample characteristics and distress type were conducted.
Results
Searches identified 16 eligible studies with 46 effects. Meta-analysis of maladaptive coping and distress yielded a significant, medium sized association, k = 12, r = .347, 95% CIs [.23, .46]. Moderator analyses were significant only for type of distress, with effects for depression being larger than that for combined distress. Effects did not vary as a function of age, participant sex, or disease duration. Meta-analysis for adaptive coping was not significant, k = 10, r = −.155, 95% CIs [−.31, .01].
Conclusions
Findings from this first meta-analysis of coping and distress in RA indicate that maladaptive but not adaptive coping is associated with greater distress. Further research is needed to grow the evidence base to verify the current findings especially with respect to adaptive coping.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2024 The Authors. British Journal of Health Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Keywords: | coping strategies; psychological distress; rheumatoid arthritis |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Psychology (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 14 May 2024 07:38 |
Last Modified: | 20 Nov 2024 10:48 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/bjhp.12726 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:212454 |