Coping Strategies Of Chronically Ill-People During Covid-19 In Light Of Some Variables

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to explore the coping strategies of people with chronic diseases during the spread of Corona virus in the light of some demographic variables. To achieve the goal of the study, a scale (coping strategies) was administered to a sample consisting of (494) individuals selected by snowball method. The scale was verified by using Exploratory Factor Analysis. The results showed that the most common confrontation strategies among people with chronic diseases were the strategies of devoutness and social support. The findings also showed the presence of statistically significant differences in strategies attributable to the gender variable on the denial dimension in favor of females, and humor and satire dimension in favor of males. Differences attributable to education variable (dimensions of social support, positive reassessment, withdrawal, and religiosity) were also found in favor of individuals who have lower than a bachelor’s degree, and the presence of differences attributable to the variable of the social status on the dimension of social support in favor of unmarried individuals. As for the two dimensions of social support and focus on solving the problem, the study showed the presence of differences due to the variable of work for the benefit of individuals who are not working, and differences were found in focusing on solving the problem (employed, retired) in favor of working individuals. Differences were found too due to the age variable on the dimension of social support and focusing on solving the problem in favor of individuals from the age of 20 to less than 40. Conclusion: The positive coping strategy plays an important role in alleviating the stressful psychological impact of most patients with chronic diseases.