Variability of coping strategies in coronary artery bypass surgery patients

The state-versus-trait discussion in coping research would become more mean ingful if attention is paid to the variability both of coping patterns in i ndividual patients as well as stability of single coping strategies over ti me. 35 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were interviewed thre e times about their coping and stress experience: after cardiac catheteriza tion, on the day before surgery, and six days after surgery. Anxiety and de pression were measured. A coping attitude of "positive passivity" was prese nt at all three points of time. While the group means were stable, vast int erindividual differences occurred. Also, there was a high degree of scatter in the stability of single coping items; emotion related coping modes were more stable than cognition and action related ones. The variability of the patients' coping patterns correlated positively with the amount of stress experienced and with preoperative depression. Different coping strategies are linked to a different degree with personali ty traits, emotional coping modes revealing the closest connection. The var iability of individual coping efforts might be linked to a personality disp osition characterised by a vulnerability for stress and depressive reaction s.