Coping and Health: A Comparison of the Stress and Trauma Literatures
Coping and Health: A Comparison of the Stress and Trauma Literatures
Carolyn M. Aldwin and Loriena A. Yancura Dept. of Human and Community Development University of California, Davis
Chapter prepared for P. P. Schnurr & B. L. Green (Eds.), Physical Health Consequences of Exposure to Extreme Stress. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
COPING AND HEALTH Even a cursory review of PsychLit reveals that well over 20,000 articles on stress and coping processes have been published in the past two decades (Aldwin, 1999). A smaller proportion of these has specifically examined how individuals cope with trauma. Due to differences between researchers in how trauma is defined, a definitive number is difficult to
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determine. However, a search for the key words trauma and coping yielded 1,000 articles. Given the magnitude of this literature, we will not attempt to provide a full review. However, we will briefly outline the different theoretical and methodological approaches to coping (for more complete reviews see Aldwin, 1999; Lazarus, 2000; Parker & Endler, 1996; Schwarzer & Schwarzer, 1996). Then we will examine the similarities and differences between coping with general problems and coping with trauma. Finally, we will provide whether a brief review of the relationship between coping and health outcomes, and focus on whether coping strategies can affect both the psychological and physical outcomes of trauma.
THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO COPING There are four basic theoretical and methodological approaches to coping. Psychoanalytic approaches focus on the use of defense mechanisms, while personality approaches focus on coping styles. Both of these assume that adaptation is primarily a function of personal characteristics. In contrast, the coping process approach draws upon cognitive behavioral models, and is more likely to emphasize environmental demands and influences on coping. Coping process approaches tie the coping
Carolyn M. Aldwin and Loriena A. Yancura Dept. of Human and Community Development University of California, Davis
Chapter prepared for P. P. Schnurr & B. L. Green (Eds.), Physical Health Consequences of Exposure to Extreme Stress. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
COPING AND HEALTH Even a cursory review of PsychLit reveals that well over 20,000 articles on stress and coping processes have been published in the past two decades (Aldwin, 1999). A smaller proportion of these has specifically examined how individuals cope with trauma. Due to differences between researchers in how trauma is defined, a definitive number is difficult to
2
determine. However, a search for the key words trauma and coping yielded 1,000 articles. Given the magnitude of this literature, we will not attempt to provide a full review. However, we will briefly outline the different theoretical and methodological approaches to coping (for more complete reviews see Aldwin, 1999; Lazarus, 2000; Parker & Endler, 1996; Schwarzer & Schwarzer, 1996). Then we will examine the similarities and differences between coping with general problems and coping with trauma. Finally, we will provide whether a brief review of the relationship between coping and health outcomes, and focus on whether coping strategies can affect both the psychological and physical outcomes of trauma.
THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO COPING There are four basic theoretical and methodological approaches to coping. Psychoanalytic approaches focus on the use of defense mechanisms, while personality approaches focus on coping styles. Both of these assume that adaptation is primarily a function of personal characteristics. In contrast, the coping process approach draws upon cognitive behavioral models, and is more likely to emphasize environmental demands and influences on coping. Coping process approaches tie the coping
References: COPING AND HEALTH Devine, E. C. (1992). Effects of psychoeducational care for adult surgical patients: A meta-analysis of 191 studies. Patient Education & Counseling, 19, 129-142. Dougall, A. L., & Baum, A. (this volume). COPING AND HEALTH Fawzy, F. & Fawzy, N. (1994). Psychoeducational interventions and health outcomes. COPING AND HEALTH Herbert, T. B., Coriell, M., & Cohen, S. (1994). Analysis of lymphocyte proliferation data: Do different approaches yield the same results? Brain, Behavior and Immunity, 8, 153162. COPING AND HEALTH Linley, A. (2000). Transforming psychology . . .The example of trauma. Psychologist, 13, 353-355. Lomranz, J. (1990). Long-term adaptation to traumatic stress in light of adult 47 COPING AND HEALTH Parker, J. D. A., & Endler, N. S. (1996). Coping and defense: A historical overview. In M. Zeidner and N. S. Endler, (Eds.) Handbook of coping: Theory, research, and applications (pp. 3-23). John Wiley & Sons: New York. COPING AND HEALTH Schnurr, P. P., Spiro, A. III, Aldwin, C. M., & Stukel, Therese A. (1998). Symptom trajectories following trauma exposure: Longitudinal findings from the Normative Aging Study. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorders, 186, 522-528.