COPING WITH ILLNESS-RELATED PROBLEMS AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN ADULT INDIVIDUALS WITH MUSCULAR-DYSTROPHY

Illness-related problems and coping were examined in 60 individuals wi th muscular dystrophy (MD) identified in a population survey of the co unty of Orebro, Sweden. In addition, the extent to which coping is rel ated to quality of life (QoL) was investigated as was the impact of im pairment and disability on the relation between coping and QoL, Emotio n/appraisal-focused coping was utilized by respondents more than twice as often as problem-focused coping, High QoL was significantly correl ated to ''Stoic acceptance'' and ''Tried alternative treatment.'' Low QoL was associated with ''Helpless/hopeless,'' ''Anxious preoccupation ,'' ''Minimization,'' ''Social comparison,'' ''Establishment of contro l over everyday life,'' ''Performs the task with the aid of an applian ce'' and ''Accepts help or leaves it to others.'' When measures of imp airment and disability were included in the analysis, the impact of th ese measures explained the association between coping and physical QoL by 16% to 43%. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Inc.