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Immunity and health after bereavement in relation to coping
Author(s) -
Lindstrøm Toril Christine
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1467-9450
pISSN - 0036-5564
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9450.00034
Subject(s) - coping (psychology) , psychology , norwegian , clinical psychology , anxiety , stressor , psychiatry , linguistics , philosophy
Coping was examined as an intervening variable between the stressor of bereavement and its effects on subjective health and immunity in thirty‐nine recently bereaved Norwegian women. Coping was defined as: “positive response outcome expectancies”. Data were collected approximately one month after the death of the husband, and twelve months thereafter. Data collected were: expected coping success (self‐scoring), subjective health (UHI), anxiety and depression (GWB), and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgG) with components (C3, C4). Statistics were: frequencies, paired t ‐test, ANOVA, and MANOVA. Permissions and confidentiality were in accordance with the Helsinki‐declaration. Coping was found to be related strongly to health and to health changes. Few relations were found between immunity and health. Coping, health, and anxiety and depression formed a triangle of interrelations. It was concluded that coping defined as “positive response outcome expectancies” may be a predictor of the adaptational outcome after a crisis.