AN ANALYSIS OF COPING PROFILES AND ADJUSTMENT IN PERSONS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

The present study adopts a multivariate approach to the analysis of co ping and adjustment to chronic illness using two different techniques. First, using the newly developed Vanderbilt Multidimensional Pain Cop ing Inventory (VMPCI; C. A. Smith et al., 1995), a cluster analysis in dicated that a sample of 165 persons with rheumatoid arthritis could b e classified into four groups, each characterized by a distinctive cop ing profile across the 11 coping strategies assessed by the VMPCI. Aft er controlling for differences in arthritis-related pain, the four clu sters differed reliably in psychological adjustment as assessed by mea sures of positive and negative affect, depressive symptoms, and life s atisfaction. Second, regression analyses examined whether certain copi ng strategies interacted in their relations to adjustment when used to gether. Evidence for several interactions was obtained, and these inte ractions tended to be outcome specific. These results suggest the adap tational significance of individual coping strategies may often be hig hly context specific. Overall, the findings indicate considerable valu e to adopting a multidimensional perspective in the study of coping an d adjustment.