Cognitive Coping Strategies of Children with Chronic Illness

Coping among children and adolescents with chronic illness

“…Preliminary results on illness-specific coping are similar to prior findings (Olson et al, 1993), showing that children and adolescents with asthma differed in passive avoidant coping from healthy peers. Among the clinical groups, patients with atopic dermatitis and cancer applied more positive self-instructions on social stressors than patients with asthma.…”

“…However, results of the present study are in line with findings provided by Derevensky et al (1998). Studies examining illness-related coping styles also demonstrated a greater use of cognitive coping strategies and less maladaptive coping strategies in chronically ill children and adolescents (Olson et al, 1993;Spirito et al, 1988Spirito et al, , 1994, supporting the hypothesis of an improved coping in children and adolescents with a chronic illness.…”

“…Derevensky, Tsanos, and Handman (1998) found, when examining mothers' reports, that children with cancer were characterized by more flexible coping with common stressors than healthy controls. In contrast, the study reported by Olson et al (1993) failed to ascertain significant differences between chronically ill and healthy controls in coping with common stressors. In another study, middle and late adolescent patients with diabetes mellitus showed a non-reflective coping style and used their social network less frequently than the healthy peers (cf.…”

“…Compared to healthy counterparts as well as those with acute diseases, chronically ill children and adolescents were characterized by low levels of avoidant behaviour, self-criticism, and distraction (Spirito, Stark, & Tyc, 1994;Spirito, Stark, & Williams, 1988). In comparison with healthy controls, children with chronic illness (asthma, diabetes, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) consistently endorsed more cognitive coping strategies in response to venepuncture (Olson, Johansen, Powers, Pope, & Klein, 1993).…”

Children, Coping, and the Stress of Illness: A Synthesis of the Research

“…Definition: Deliberate cognitive attempts to keep thoughts away from a stressor stressor Definition: Thoughts focused on ways to modify, prevent, or eliminate the Wishful thinking-associated with Problem-solving-associated with poor diabetes control (Delamater et al, 1987(Delamater et al, ) et al, 1990 diabetes regimen adherence (Jacobson Using humor-associated with low Solving family problems-used more HgbA in children with diabetes (Grey et al, 1991) by children with diabetes than healthy children (Grey, Cameron, Lipman, & Thurber, 1994) Occupying one's mind with thoughts other than being "poked"-used by children with hemophilia (Spitzer, 1992) Accepting responsibility for the stressor-frequently used and effective strategy for children with asthma (Ryan-Wenger & Walsh, 1994) Daydream, draw, write, or read-a more effective strategy for healthy children (41%) than children with RAP (8%) (Sharrer & Ryan-Wenger, 1994) Planning-occurred more often with depressed than non-depressed children (Asarnow et al, 1987) Nonprocedural talk and humor used by children with cancer during bone marrow aspiration or lumbar puncture (Blount et al, 1989) Active cognitive coping strategiesgenerated more often by suicide ideators than non-suicidal children (Asarnow et al, 1987) Diverting attention from pain (part of Problem-solving-used more frequently by adolescents with chronic illness than by healthy adolescents (Olson, Johansen, Powers, Pope, & Klein, 1993') Coping Attempt subscale) was predictive of decreased ER visits for children with sickle cell disease (Gil et al, 1991) Diverting attention from pain (part of Coping Attempt subscale) was associated with more "uptime" and less activity reduction during painful sickle cell episodes over time "Countermeasures," including cognitive distraction, represented 33.7% of hospitalized children's responses about coping strategies (Bossert, 1994)…”