The Relationship Between Anxiety, Coping Strategies and Characteristics of Patients with Hypertension

Abstract

Objective:The aim of this study was to explore and define the trait anxiety levels of hypertension patients, their coping strategies, socio-demographic characteristics, and the relationship between anxiety and coping strategies.

Materials and Methods: In the study, 20-item Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI TX-2) was used to measure the level of anxiety and a 28-item Brief Cope which scale developed by Carver et al. (1989) was used to measure coping strategies. 

Results:The sample of the study consisted of 147 people diagnosed with hypertension who were treated in Ankara Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training and Research Hospital. The mean age was 61.16 (SD = 10.52), with a range from 34 to 89 years. The majority of the participants were female (57.1%). In the research, 95.9% of the participants (n = 141) exceeded the 42 points with trait anxiety threshold. Acceptance and religion, were the most frequently used problem-focused coping strategies. On the other side, self-distraction and self-blame were the most frequently used emotion-focused coping strategies. 

Conclusion:Significant correlations were found between socio-demographic and health characteristics, anxiety and coping strategies. The findings point to the importance of considering individual coping strategies when evaluating the impact of hypertension on psychosocial well-being. 

Keywords

• hypertension,coping,trait anxiety

Hipertansiyon Hastalarının Özellikleri ile Sürekli Kaygı ve Baş Etme Becerileri Arasındaki İlişki

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı hipertansiyon hastalarının sürekli kaygı düzeylerini, kullandıkları başa çıkma stratejilerini, sosyo-demografik özelliklerini, kaygı ve başa çıkma stratejileri arasındaki ilişkileri araştırmak ve tanımlamaktır. 

Gereç ve Yöntem:Çalışmada kaygı düzeyini ölçmek için 20 maddeden oluşan Sürekli Kaygı Ölçeği (STAI TX-2) ve başa çıkma stratejilerini ölçmek için (Carver ve ark. 1989) tarafından geliştirilen ve 28 maddeden oluşan Baş Etme (KF) ölçeğinden yararlanılmıştır. Bu çalışma, kesitsel tasarım ve kolayda örnekleme yöntemlerinin kullanıldığı bir tarama çalışmasıdır.

Bulgular:Çalışmanın örneklemi Ankara Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi’nde hizmet alan hipertansiyon tanısı almış 147 kişi oluşturmaktadır. Çalışmaya katılan katılımcıların %57.1’i kadın katılımcıdır. Katılımcıların yaş ortalamaları 61.16±10.52 (ortalama±s.sapma) olarak elde edilmiştir. Katılımcıların %95.9’ u (n= 141) sürekli kaygı eşiği olan 42 puanı aşmıştır. Katılımcıların en çok kullandıkları problem odaklı başa çıkma stratejileri; din ve kabullenme stratejileriyken en çok kullanılan duygu odaklı başa çıkma stratejileri ise; dikkatini başka yöne yöneltme ve kendini suçlama stratejileridir.

Sonuç:Sosyo-demografik ve sağlığa ilişkin özellikler, anksiyete ve başa çıkma stratejileri arasında önemli korelasyonlar bulunmuştur. Bulgular, hipertansiyonun psikososyal refah üzerindeki etkisini değerlendirirken bireysel baş etme stratejilerini dikkate almanın önemine işaret etmektedir

Keywords

• Hipertansiyon,başa çıkma,sürekli kaygı

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