Hypertension; coping strategies used by people

ABSTRACT

The literature review portrays a reasonable picture of the role of certain coping strategies in developing hypertension. Present research based on self-regulation theory explored correlation of coping strategies of stress with hypertension. Cross sectional research design. Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Services Hospital, Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore. June 2010 to June 2011. Sample [N = 400] outdoor hypertensive males [N = 100] and hypertensive females [N = 100] between ages 30-60, and their age matched healthy controls [N= 200, 100 males, 100 females] were taken from 3 hospitals. Brief COPE scale was used to measure coping strategies. Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were carried out. Significant positive correlation of hypertension with active coping, substance use, instrumental support, positive refraining, acceptance, and self-blame was found and active coping, acceptance, instrumental social support and self-blame coping strategies appeared as significant predictors of hypertension