COPING WITH THE LATE EFFECTS - DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DEPRESSED AND NONDEPRESSED POLIO SURVIVORS

This study examined differences between depressed and nondepressed ind ividuals with a history of paralytic poliomyelitis in terms of demogra phics, health status and coping strategies. The prevalence of distress and depression in this group of 116 polio survivors was determined. S ubjects completed the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Coping with Disabil ity Inventory and a questionnaire concerning their polio histories and self-perceptions of health. Medical assessments were performed by phy sicians. Only 15.8% of the sample had scores indicating depression and elevated distress. Depressed/distressed polio survivors were more lik ely to: be living alone, be experiencing further health status deterio ration, seek professional help, view their health as poor, report grea ter pain, be less satisfied with their occupational status and their l ives in general and exhibit poorer coping outcome behaviors in relatio n to their disability. Three factors in coping with the late effects o f polio were identified through a factor analysis of the Coping with D isability Inventory: positive self-acceptance, information seeking/sha ring about the disability and social activism. Differences between dep ressed/distressed and other polio survivors were found across these th ree factors, with depressed/distressed subjects having significantly l ower coping scores. These and other results are discussed.