The use of preexisting and novel coping strategies in adapting to age-related vision loss

Research has proposed that when faced with a stressor, individuals test nov el coping strategies when preexisting strategies fail to reduce perceived t hreat. However, the utilization of novel coping strategies has received sca nt empirical attention. This study presents data in the form of spontaneous comments or responses to open-ended questions from three previous quantita tive studies of adaptation to age-related vision loss (N = 155, 95, and 343 participants), Self-reported coping strategies were identified using a "Gr ounded Theory" approach, and then examined for evidence of whether the stra tegy was recently utilized (novel) or whether it had been used prior to vis ion loss (preexisting). Results supported the utilization of novel coping s trategies in the process of adaptation to a chronic impairment among older adults. Overall, the use of novel coping strategies was found to be associa ted with better adaptational outcomes, emphasizing the importance of novel coping in response to stressful life circumstances.