Parent coping styles and schizophrenic patient behavior as predictors of expressed emotion

Several studies have examined relationships between levels of expressed emo tion in relatives of individuals with schizophrenia and the coping strategi es these relatives employ. In an attempt to elucidate these relationships, 44 parents were assessed using the Camberwell Family Interview and the Stra tegic Approach to Coping Scale. Associations between these measures were ex amined. Additionally, interactions between parent coping style and patient aggression were assessed with respect to expressed emotion. The results ind icate that scores on the coping scale generally were not directly related t o levels of expressed emotion. However, an interaction was found between pa rent coping style and patient behavior which predicted level of expressed E motion. This finding supports the idea that research into the variables und erlying expressed emotion should include the assessment of both parent and patient characteristics and examine the interactions between these variable s.