Citation

Kuiper H, Leeuwen CMC, Stolwijk-Swuste JM, Post MWM. Disabil. Rehabil. 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09638288.2023.2272714

PMID

37909296

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine associations between illness perception, also called illness cognitions or appraisals, disposition of passive coping, and symptoms of anxiety and depression, and to test whether passive coping mediates the associations between illness perception and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Longitudinal, multicentre study. Participants were inpatients of spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. Measures included the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ), the Utrecht Coping List passive coping subscale (UCL-P), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Mediation was tested with the PROCESS tool.

RESULTS: The questionnaires were completed by 121 participants at admission and at discharge. Of them, 70% were male, 58% had a paraplegia, and 82% an incomplete lesion. Weak to strong (0.294-0.650) significant associations were found between each pair of study variables. The use of passive coping strategies mediated the associations between illness perception and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

CONCLUSION: Symptoms of anxiety and depression were more frequent in people who have a threatening illness perception combined with a lower use of passive coping strategies. Therefore, it is advised that patients are screened and treated for threatening illness perception and high use of passive coping strategies during rehabilitation after SCI.

Language: en

Keywords

Spinal cord injury; depression; anxiety; mediation; common-sense model (CSM) of self-regulation; illness perception; passive coping