Relationship between stress coping strategies, psychological distress, and quality of life among hemodialysis patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between coping strategies and psychological distress on quality of life (QoL) in hemodialysis patients.

DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was conducted with 100 patients undergoing hemodialysis. Data collection instruments were SF-36, HADS, and JCS. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression and descriptive statistical analysis.

FINDINGS: Emotive coping style to be a significant independent determinant of lower QoL in the MCS domain (β = -0.41; p = 0.024), while anxiety was found to be a determinant of lower scores in both the MCS (β = -0.47; p = 0.006) and the PCS (β = -0.55; p = 0.001) domains.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Anxiety and emotive coping style negatively affect QoL in dialysis patients. More attention could be paid to its role to deal with the inevitable sources of stress in the care plan.