Personal styles and ways of coping in individuals who use wheelchairs

Abstract

To obtain information about the psychological needs of wheelchair users, 45 subjects participating in a university-based drop-in physical activity centre and outpatient rehabilitation program completed the Personal Styles Inventory and the Ways of Coping Inventory. Three groups of subjects were formed, differentiated by etiology for their disability. Results suggested that subjects with brain injury possessed the most limited coping resources. Subjects with multiple sclerosis were highest of the three groups in the frequency of utilization of emotional coping, they also revealed a fundamentally introverted and stability-based personality style. Subjects with spinal cord injuries utilized a predominantly Problem-solving means of coping; and they revealed a basic personality style characterized as extroverted and stable. The findings suggest that disease process (perhaps through common preexisting psychological characteristics, the nature of the onset and progression of the disease process, and/or tissue damage) may modify the ability to adapt and cope with the need to use a wheelchair. The nature of psychological support to be offered should reflect not only the use of a wheelchair but also the underlying personality and its modification by the nature of the disease process.

A review of stress-relapse interactions in multiple sclerosis: important features and stress-mediating and -moderating variables

“…Coping strategy use has also been examined in MS patients. They use EFC strategies more often than medical controls, 83 although similar coping strategy use has also been reported in another study of MS patients and controls (despite the higher rates of depression in MS patients). 36 More MS relapse patients than remission patients use EFC strategies over problem-solving strategies or social support.…”

Assessments of Coping After Acquired Brain Injury

“…Ways of Coping Checklist 61 No adult coping scale Adolescent Coping Scale 62 No coping instrument No coping a Perceived Self-Regulatory Ability Inventory 63 Optimization Coping Scale for Adults 93 Coping Response Inventory 94 Ways of Coping Questionnaire-short versions [95][96][97] Ways of Coping Questionnaire-revised versions [98][99][100][101] Ways of Coping Questionnaire-Cardiovascular Accident 22 Abbreviation: ABI, acquired brain injury. a As defined as cognitively and behaviorally dealing with problems.…”

Multiple sclerose: problematiek en psychologische interventies. Tussen autonomie en afhankelijkheid

“…In een studie naar de verschillende copingstijlen bij rolstoelgebruikers (Wheeler et al, 1996) bleken mensen met MS een andere manier van omgaan met problemen te vertonen dan mensen die een rolstoel gebruikten vanwege een hersenaandoening of een aandoening van het ruggenmerg. Mensen met MS bleken meer emotiegerichte coping en een introverte en op stabiliteit gebaseerde, geremde persoonlijkheidsstructuur te vertonen dan de andere groepen, die meer probleemgerichte copingstrategiee¨n hanteren.…”