Predictors of coping strategies among adults with cancer.

The predictive utility of emotional distress, social support, and satisfaction with health care for use of particular coping strategies (confrontation, avoidance, acceptance-resignation) was examined in 130 adults with cancer. Analysis indicated that emotional distress was the most salient predictor of adults' use of coping strategies characterized by avoidance and acceptance-resignation, after controlling for the effects of duration of disease and relevant demographic characteristics. Emotional distress, social support, and satisfaction with health care did not account for a significant percentage of the variance in coping strategies characterized by confrontation.