CHILDRENS PREOPERATIVE COPING AND ITS EFFECTS ON POSTOPERATIVE ANXIETY AND RETURN TO NORMAL ACTIVITY

A model was tested to assess children's preoperative coping with major orthopedic surgery and how coping is related to two different postope rative outcomes, anxiety and return to normal activities. Ninety child ren, ages 8 to 17, participated. Data were collected the day before su rgery, the second postoperative day, and at 3-, 6-, and 9-month recove ry periods. A respecified model was not significantly different from t he data (p = .90), indicating a good fit. Children who were older, mor e anxious, and more internal in locus of control exhibited more vigila nt coping. Avoidant coping was associated with less anxiety 2 days pos toperatively, and vigilant coping was associated with return to normal activities over the course of recovery.