Positive coping and mastery in a rehabilitation setting

The objective of this study was to examine the predictive value of positive coping in relation to behavioral outcomes. Positive coping focuses on goal setting and preparative behavior in response to distress. The participants were 228 in-patients in a rehabilitation hospital following joint replacement. The average age of participants was 67.3 years old, 71% were women and two-thirds were married. Sixty percent had a hip replacement and 40% had a knee replacement. The study was designed so that at Time 1, two scales were used: the proactive coping subscale of the Proactive Coping Inventory and the Getting on with Life scale. Proactive coping measures future-oriented planning and goal-setting strategies that an individual develops when confronting stress. Getting on with Life assesses feelings about resuming activities and social relationships that give one day-to-day pleasure. At Time 2, behavioral outcomes were assessed using the 2-Minute Walk (2MW) Test and a functional independence measure. In the 2MW Test, participants were instructed to walk at a comfortable pace and the distance walked in 2 min was measured in meters. The functional independence measure was based on average ratings of participants' independence behavior by trained hospital personnel in different areas. Results indicated that proactive coping and Getting on with Life were significantly related to behavioral outcomes. In conclusion, the results illustrate the value of positive coping in a rehabilitation setting.