Coping and Its Relation to Gender, Anxiety, Depression, Fatigue, Cognitive Difficulties and Somatic Symptoms

Background: The first aim of this study was to analyse the structure of coping and to develop a measuring instrument to be used in future work. A second aim was to examine associations between coping scores and negative outcomes (anxiety, depression, fatigue, cognitive difficulties and somatic symptoms). Finally, gender differences in coping with workplace events were examined, as were the relationships between gender and subjective health outcomes.

Methodology: A survey of a sample of 240 adults from the South Wales area was conducted at one-time point only. The questionnaire included a factor analysed version of the Ways of Coping Checklist (WCCL) as well as scales measuring anxiety, depression, fatigue, cognitive difficulties and somatic symptoms.

Results: Results showed that negative coping styles significantly predicted negative health outcomes, and positive coping styles predicted fewer negative outcomes. No significant differences were found for health outcomes between men and women, but women were significantly more likely to use self-blame and wishful thinking coping.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that coping styles are associated with wellbeing outcomes. Further research should use more independent variables, such as workplace and individual characteristics, to explain more of the variance in health outcomes than just that explained by coping styles alone.