ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study was to investigate the factors affecting general coping styles, especially the correlations between coping styles and the variables related to disease history in chronic renal failure patients. METHODS: The subjects included 97 chronic renal failure patients who were hospitalized or treated through outpatient service. The Coping Styles Questionnaire (CSQ), Beck Depression Inventory-II and Beck Anxiety Inventory were administered. RESULTS: The patients who were more anxious or depressive used less rational and detachment coping and more emotional and avoidance coping. There were no significant difference in coping styles according to sex, age, education, marital state, occupation, economic state and religion. Number of previous admission was correlated positively with depression and anxiety, and also with emotional and avoidance coping. Duration of illness was correlated positively with detachment and avoidance coping. Duration of dialysis was correlated positively with avoidance coping. After controlling for depression and anxiety, number of previous admission was correlated positively with avoidance coping. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that maladaptive coping has an important role in development and maintenance of depression and anxiety in chronic renal failure patients. Psychotherapeutic strategies for lessening the maladaptive coping, especially emotional coping, would be necessary for chronic renal failure patients with emotional distress.