Adaptation and coping: a look at a sickle cell patient population over age 30--an integral phase of the life long developmental process.

Individuals with sickle cell disease experience a variety of psychosocial issues, some of which lead to maladjustments. To gather baseline data on coping and adjustment by a group of individuals over 30 years of age, a pilot study was conducted with 30 patients followed routinely at the Duke University Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center. The purpose of the study was to characterize such psychosocial parameters as coping behaviors, education, employment, group affiliation, health beliefs, marital status, parenting and perceptions regarding the disease. Using Erickson's stage of development as a point of reference, the middle adulthood stage was used as a theoretical framework for explaining and interpreting the results of this study. Study results reflect that, on the whole, the participants employed a wide variety of life skills to promote positive psychological and physical well being. These data suggest that this population of sickle cell disease patients have attained a reasonable level of psychosocial adjustment and many are leading productive lives. However, the minority of patients, who use the health care facilities more frequently, might lead one to speculate otherwise.