The relative effect of coping strategy and depression on health-related quality of life in patients
in the chronic phase after stroke
Sammanfattning
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relative associations of coping strategy and depression on
health-related quality of life in patients in the chronic phase after stroke.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
SUBJECTS: A total of 213 patients after stroke (> 18 months post-onset), mean age 59 years
(standard deviation (SD) 9.86 years), 56% men, mean time post-stroke 53 months (SD 37.8 months).
METHODS: Coping strategy was measured using the assimilative-accommodative coping scale,
depression using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and quality of life using the
World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF. Multivariable regression analyses were performed,
adjusted for patient characteristics.
RESULTS: Depression score was independently related to all domains of quality of life
(Psychological Health (B = -0.924; p = 0.000), Physical Health (B = -0.832; p = 0.000), Social
Relationships (B = -0.917; p = 0.000), Environment (B = -0.662, p = 0.000)). Accommodative coping (B
= 0.305; p = 0.024) and assimilative coping (B = 0.235; p = 0.070) were independently related to the
domain Psychological Health, adjusted for depression and education level.
CONCLUSION: Coping strategies and depression score were independently associated with
Psychological Health in patients in the chronic phase after stroke. Patients who prefer an
accommodative coping strategy may show less symptoms of depression. Preferable coping
strategies may be trained in order to improve both depression score and health-related quality of life
in future research.