Coping Styles among Patients with Depression

Document Type : Original Article

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1 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

2 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing-Mansoura University

10.21608/mnj.2025.352136.1479

Abstract

Several individuals employ various coping styles to adapt with their problems. These have significant implications in patients with depression. Coping styles are essential for depression management and recovery process. The patients may benefit from some of these coping mechanisms, which were inversely correlated with severity of depression. However, some of these coping mechanisms could be seen maladaptive and could lead to poor health outcomes. Aim: To assess coping styles among patients with depression. Method: A descriptive cross sectional study design was utilized with sixty patients with depression at Mansoura University Hospital psychiatry Inpatient Department. Data was gathered using three instruments: socio-demographic characteristics and clinical data sheet; Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory–Brief (BRIEF–COPE) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: Most of study's patients employed maladaptive coping styles with higher scores on self-blame; self-distraction; behavioral disengagement; venting and religion respectively. All of these styles are dysfunctional coping except religion that is an adaptive coping style. Adaptive coping styles had a significant negative correlation with severity of depressive symptoms and maladaptive coping styles were significantly positively correlated with severity of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Most of study's patients adopted maladaptive coping styles. The correlations reflect that higher severity of depressive symptoms was linked with more maladaptive coping styles and less adaptive coping styles. Recommendations: This study suggested that, patients with depression need interventions that improve adaptive coping styles and reduce maladaptive ones; and provide an educational program to depressed patients and their families on how to prevent and/or manage depression and stressful situations.

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