Coping with disease in the elderly - The effect of perceived control, subjective morbidity, social support and socio-demographic variables

In a community sample of 165 elderly aged 61 to 96 years (mean 69.65 years) from East and West Germany, present diseases, subjective health, impairmen ts, health-related control-beliefs, social support (F-SOZU; Sommer & Fydric h, 1989), and health related coping-styles (" Bern Coping Styles Questionna ire" BEFO; Heim et al., 1991) were assessed. By means of a stepwise multipl e regression analysis, the differential impact of control beliefs, subjecti ve morbidity, subjective health, social support, social integration, social burden, and sociodemographic variables (age, sex, educational level) was a nalyzed. Elderly with little health related impairments, emotional support, and a relatively high educational level tried to cope with diseases by low ering the affective burden by cognitive and behavioral strategies. A growin g number of diseases, a high level of practical help by others, but also a high degree of social burden were the best predictors for a health related coping strategy that is characterized by avoiding the preoccupation with th e disease and by searching for emotional support. A health related coping s tyle that is characterized by lamentation, brooding, and resignation was pr edicted best by poor subjective health, a high degree of social burden, and a low educational level.