Strong coping skills may protect against anxiety

Having a strong sense of coherence improved anxiety among women living in deprived areas, according to data presented at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress.

“Individuals with this sense of coherence, with good coping skills, view life as comprehensible and meaningful,” Olivia Remes, a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge, said in a press release. “In other words, they feel they can manage their life, and that they are in control of their life; they believe challenges encountered in life are worthy of investment and effort; and they believe that life has meaning and purpose. These are skills which can be taught.”

To determine if coping mechanisms, such as having a sense of coherence, affects the negative impact of area deprivation in women with generalized anxiety disorder, researchers analyzed data from more than 10,000 British women from the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer-Norfolk study. Study participants were aged 40 years and older. Area deprivation was assessed in 1991, and generalized anxiety disorder and a sense of coherence were assessed from 1996 to 2000.

Overall, 2.6% of women had generalized anxiety disorder.

Women with a weak sense of coherence living in deprived areas were 98% more likely to have anxiety compared with women living in less deprived areas (OR = 1.98; 95% CI, 1.35-2.92).

Conversely, having a strong sense of coherence resulted in a statistically nonsignificant association between area deprivation and anxiety (OR = 1.29; 95% CI, 0.77-2.18).

“In general, people with good coping skills tend to have a higher quality of life and lower mortality rates than people without such coping skills. Good coping can be an important life resource for preserving health,” Remes said in the release. “For the first time, we show that good coping skills can buffer the negative impact of deprivation on mental health, such as having generalized anxiety disorder. And importantly, these skills, such as feeling like you’re in control of your life and finding purpose in life, can be taught.” – by Amanda Oldt

Reference:

Remes O, et al. Sense of coherence as a coping mechanism for women with anxiety living in deprivation. Presented at: European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress; Sept. 2-5, 2017; Paris.

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