Coping in spouses of patients with acute myocardial infarction in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the usage and perceived effectiveness of coping strategies of spouses of patients with acute myocardial infarction in Taiwan, the Republic of China, during the acute phase of the illness.

DESIGN: Survey.

SETTING: Visitors room for a coronary care unit in Taiwan, the Republic of China.

SUBJECTS: Twenty-one female and 10 male spouses of patients with acute myocardial infarction.

OUTCOME MEASURES: The Revised Ways of Coping Scale was modified to assess both frequency of use and perceived effectiveness of coping strategies. It was also translated into Chinese.

RESULTS: Seeking Social Support was the most frequently used coping strategy, whereas Confrontive Coping was used the least. There were significant positive relationships between the extent of usage of coping strategies and their perceived effectiveness. Men used Planful Problem-Solving more often and found it be more effective than did women; they also found the Self-Controlling and Accepting Responsibility strategies to be more effective than did women. Older spouses reported the Planful Problem-Solving strategy to be more effective than did younger subjects. The more family members living with a spouse, the less Accepting Responsibility was used as a coping strategy.

CONCLUSIONS: Spouses of patients with acute myocardial infarction in Taiwan, the Republic of China, report using a variety of coping strategies. Those used most often are perceived to be the most effective.