The relationship of coping style with depression, burden, and life dissatisfaction in caregivers of
patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage
Sammanfattning
OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship of coping style with depression, burden and life
satisfaction in caregivers of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
PARTICIPANTS: Forty-one primary caregivers of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage.
METHODS: Caregivers completed several questionnaires within the first year after subarachnoid
haemorrhage. Coping style was assessed using the Utrecht Coping List, depression with the
Goldberg Depression Scale (GDS), burden with the Sense of Competence Questionnaire, and life
satisfaction with the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire.
RESULTS: Caregivers had a mean burden score of 37.8 (standard deviation (SD) = 7.4) and a life
satisfaction score of 5.0 (SD = 0.6). Nine caregivers (23%) had depressive symptoms (GDS ? 2). A
palliative coping style was positively associated with the presence of depressive symptoms (odds
ratio (OR) = 1.45, p = 0.016). A passive coping style was positively related to burden (ß = 1.61, p =
0.024), adjusted for morbidity of the caregiver (ß = 11.90, p = 0.013), and inversely related to life
satisfaction (ß = –0.10, p = 0.025).
CONCLUSION: In caregivers of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage palliative or passive coping
styles are related to depressive symptoms, higher burden and life dissatisfaction. This implies that
rehabilitation programmes for patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage should also include caregiver
support programmes that focus on coping style.