Coping strategies, social support and responsibility in chemical intolerance

Andersson, Linus; Nordin, Steven

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2010.03264.x

Cited by 27 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…[29,30]. Clinical research on issues such as real or perceived efficacy of treatments [31,32] and assessments of occupational performance of individuals with MCS e.g. [33] were also rejected.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From individual coping strategies to illness codification: the reflection of gender in social science research on Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS)

Nadeau

Lippel

2014

Int J Equity Health

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IntroductionEmerging fields such as environmental health have been challenged, in recent years, to answer the growing methodological calls for a finer integration of sex and gender in health-related research and policy-making.MethodsThrough a descriptive examination of 25 peer-reviewed social science papers published between 1996 and 2011, we explore, by examining methodological designs and theoretical standpoints, how the social sciences have integrated gender sensitivity in empirical work on Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS). MCS is a “diagnosis” associated with sensitivities to chronic and low-dose chemical exposures, which remains contested in both the medical and institutional arenas, and is reported to disproportionately affect women.ResultsWe highlighted important differences between papers that did integrate a gender lens and those that did not. These included characteristics of the authorship, purposes, theoretical frameworks and methodological designs of the studies. Reviewed papers that integrated gender tended to focus on the gender roles and identity of women suffering from MCS, emphasizing personal strategies of adaptation. More generally, terminological confusions in the use of sex and gender language and concepts, such as a conflation of women and gender, were observed. Although some men were included in most of the study samples reviewed, specific data relating to men was undereported in results and only one paper discussed issues specifically experienced by men suffering from MCS. Papers that overlooked gender dimensions generally addressed more systemic social issues such as the dynamics of expertise and the medical codification of MCS, from more consistently outlined theoretical frameworks. Results highlight the place for a critical, systematic and reflexive problematization of gender and for the development of methodological and theoretical tools on how to integrate gender in research designs when looking at both micro and macro social dimensions of environmental health conditions.ConclusionsThis paper contributes to a discussion on the methodological and policy implications of taking sex and gender into account appropriately in order to contribute to better equity in health, especially where the critical social contexts of definition and medico-legal recognition play a major role such as in the case of MCS.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From individual coping strategies to illness codification: the reflection of gender in social science research on Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS)

Nadeau

Lippel

2014

Int J Equity Health

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“…Another limitation regarding coping strategies is that other strategies than those eight assessed in this study may be used in asthma/allergy. The questionnaire used was chosen since it was successfully used in another type of environmental intolerance [31], and since no validated instrument is available for asthma/allergy. Thus, future studies should aim at developing an asthma/allergy-specific questionnaire instrument for coping and social support.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Each of these 21 items was rated on a 7-point scale ranging from "Not at all (0)" to "To a very large extent (6)", identical with the scale for coping strategies. As for the assessment of coping, an almost identical version of this instrument has previously been used to study social support in chemical intolerance [31].…”

Section: Questionnaire Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The absolute zero point, representing no use at all, and the use of equidistant scale numbers with descriptors only at the end points, implies that the procedure would provide ratio-scale data. An almost identical version of this instrument has previously been used to study coping in chemical intolerance [31]. The statements were based on theories by Lazarus and Folkman [17], and effort was made to fit the statements to the study population's everyday hassles and needs.…”

Section: Questionnaire Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Coping and social support in asthma and allergy: the Västerbotten Environmental Health Study

et al. 2014

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Objectives: Asthma and allergy are stressful conditions that require coping strategies and social support to reduce stress and enhance health-promoting behavior. However, research is limited regarding coping and social support in asthma and allergy. The aim was to better understand use of different coping strategies and perceived social support in low and high severity (exacerbation frequency) of asthma and allergy. Methods: Population-based data were used to provide ratings of coping strategies (Study I) and social support (Study II) from 124 and 94 participants, respectively, with asthma and/or allergy, categorized as low or high in severity.Problem-and emotion-focused coping strategies were assessed as well as emotional, instrumental and informative social support from seven sources. Results: Study I showed that avoiding certain environments (problem-based coping) and trying to accept one's situation (emotion-based) were the most commonly used coping strategies. These behaviors did not differ due to severity. Study II showed that more emotional than instrumental and informative support was perceived. The highest rated support sources were the partner, family members, and the healthcare system. More social support was reported in low compared to high asthma/allergy severity. Conclusion: The most commonly used coping strategies in the population of persons with these four types of asthma and allergy are avoiding certain environments and trying to accept one's situation. More emotional support than instrumental and informative is perceived to be received, and most of the support is received from one's partner and other family members, and least from authorities and patient associations/support groups.3

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“…Regarding coping strategies, one study of MCS/IEI describes prevention/avoidance, detoxification, and emotional self-care as main ways of self-care (Lipson, 2001), and another study has shown avoidance of odorous/pungent environments and asking persons to limit their use of odorous/pungent substances as common strategies (Nordin, Andersson, & Nordin, 2010). With focus on SHR, a longitudinal study by Ternesten-Hasséus, Löwhagen, and Millqvist (2007) has shown that these individuals have reduced quality of life, including social isolation and problems/limitations in paid employment, household work, hobbies, and holidays.…”

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confidence: 99%

The Experience of Living With Sensory Hyperreactivity—Accessibility, Financial Security, and Social Relationships

Söderholm

Söderberg

Nordin

2011

Health Care for Women International

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Odor intolerance is a frequently reported problem, predominantly among women. Our purpose was to illuminate how individuals living with sensory hyperreactivity (SHR; a form of odor intolerance) experience its impact on accessibility, financial security, and social relationships. Data were collected by having 12 women with SHR write descriptive texts. These texts were analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Six themes were identified: Being limited in participating in society, being forced to behave incompatibly with one's personality, experiencing lack of understanding and respect from others, experiencing insecurity, being dependent on others, and being forced to choose between the plague and cholera.

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Coping strategies, social support and responsibility in chemical intolerance

Abstract: For improved care, certain coping strategies may be suggested by nurses, the healthcare system needs to provide better social support to these patients and the issue of responsibility for improvement may be discussed with the patient.

Cited by 27 publications

References 42 publications

From individual coping strategies to illness codification: the reflection of gender in social science research on Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS)

From individual coping strategies to illness codification: the reflection of gender in social science research on Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS)

Coping and social support in asthma and allergy: the Västerbotten Environmental Health Study

The Experience of Living With Sensory Hyperreactivity—Accessibility, Financial Security, and Social Relationships

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