Jingjin Shao1, Hang Yang2, Qinghua Zhang3, Weiping Du2, Huijie Lei2. 1. Centre for Mental Health Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China. jingjinshao@gmail.com. 2. Centre for Mental Health Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China. 3. Department of Tourism and Art for Humanity, Chongqing Youth Vocational & Technical College, Chongqing, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to validate the role of the stress and coping paradigm in the context of psychological adjustment to chronic illnesses among older adults by using the structural equation modeling technique, as well as investigating the differences in structural weights between older adults with arthritis and older adults with hypertension. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 325 older adults with chronic illnesses (149 hypertension, 176 arthritis), aged 60-88 years, who completed questions on perceived social support, psychological resources, threat appraisal, self-efficacy, coping strategy, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. RESULTS: The results revealed that older adults with arthritis experienced significantly higher anxiety (t = 2.91, p < 0.01) than those with hypertension, whereas no significant difference in their depressive symptoms was observed (t = 1.61, p > 0.05). Social support, psychological resources, threat appraisal, and self-efficacy had a significant direct relationship with psychological distress (β = - 0.15, β = - 0.38, β = 0.19, β = - 0.23, respectively). Multi-group analyses showed significant differences in structural weights between older adults with hypertension and those with arthritis (Δχ2 = 41.336, Δdf = 18, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The stress and coping paradigm appears to be applicable for adjustment to chronic illnesses by allowing direct paths from social support, psychological resources, threat appraisal, and self-efficacy to psychological distress. The differences in structural weights may offer an intervening angle for clinical practitioners to design targeted interventions for older adults with different types of chronic illnesses.
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to validate the role of the stress and coping paradigm in the context of psychological adjustment to chronic illnesses among older adults by using the structural equation modeling technique, as well as investigating the differences in structural weights between older adults with arthritis and older adults with hypertension. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 325 older adults with chronic illnesses (149 hypertension, 176 arthritis), aged 60-88 years, who completed questions on perceived social support, psychological resources, threat appraisal, self-efficacy, coping strategy, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. RESULTS: The results revealed that older adults with arthritis experienced significantly higher anxiety (t = 2.91, p < 0.01) than those with hypertension, whereas no significant difference in their depressive symptoms was observed (t = 1.61, p > 0.05). Social support, psychological resources, threat appraisal, and self-efficacy had a significant direct relationship with psychological distress (β = - 0.15, β = - 0.38, β = 0.19, β = - 0.23, respectively). Multi-group analyses showed significant differences in structural weights between older adults with hypertension and those with arthritis (Δχ2 = 41.336, Δdf = 18, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The stress and coping paradigm appears to be applicable for adjustment to chronic illnesses by allowing direct paths from social support, psychological resources, threat appraisal, and self-efficacy to psychological distress. The differences in structural weights may offer an intervening angle for clinical practitioners to design targeted interventions for older adults with different types of chronic illnesses.