COPING - STATE OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE 90S

After a brief historical introduction the literature that has appeared on coping since the middle eighties is reviewed. Theoretically Lazaru s' concept of transactional coping has been developed with focus on em otions. Antonovsky's salutogenesis is considered to be innovative. Met hodology is discussed in view of instruments, observers time and persp ective and need for qualitative evaluation. Clinically it must be conc luded from the many cross-sectional comparisons that diseases with com parable demands call for similar coping. Only in long-term studies can stage-dependent differences of efficacy be detected. Active, tackling coping based on social and emotional resources and problem-analysis i s significantly superior to passive coping with social withdrawal, rum inating, resignation and self-accusation. More recently interest in co ping is extended to families and caretakers of patients. It is conclud ed that more corresponding with stress-research is needed, methodology should be adjusted and in view of important intervention strategies e valuation of efficacy is necessary.