Social support and coping with chronic disease as exemplified by type 2 diabetes

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. Need for social support significantly influences the ability to cope with stress. Low demand is conducive for creating new strategies and effective coping with difficult situations. The goal of this study was to determine the level and kinds of the received support and styles of coping with chronic disease as exemplified by type 2 diabetes, as the determinants of regaining optimum health.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. The study included 101 patients of a GP surgery, Sklodowska-Curie Street, Bydgoszcz. Support was assessed using Kmiecik- Baran Social Support Scale and the measurement of coping with stress was done with Endler and Parker CISS questionnaire, adapted for Polish research by Szczepanik, Strelau and Wrzesniewski.
RESULTS. Patients with type 2 diabetes differed in coping styles and kinds of support. They received small amount of emotional support and large amount of instrumental support. The largest instrumental support was received by the respondents with emotionally-oriented coping style (who focused on their own emotional experiences); the smallest amount was received by those who chose avoidance-oriented coping style (who avoided experiencing and thinking about stressful situations).
CONCLUSIONS. The results may influence the preparation of a patient to self-dependent life with the disease. Estimation of support levels may be used as a determinant of prognosis of care for a patient at different stages of a chronic disease. (Diabet. Prakt. 2010; 11, 3: 101–107)