Coping strategies

Question 1

Confronting

Answer 1

●Trying to change the opinion of the person in charge
●Ex. Trying to tell the counselor they are wrong because…

Example: Upon receiving the results an abnormal prenatal microarray, the father argues with the genetic counselor and exclaims that even she described the ambiguity of microarray results, insisting that conclusions cannot be drawn from this test result.

Question 2

Distancing

Answer 2

●Pretending nothing has happened (denial)
Example: As he is leaving the genetic counseling session during which he received positive results for MLH1 genetic testing for HNPCC and learned that his children are at increased risk for inheriting this mutation, the client states “Well, I didn’t learn anything new today.”

Question 3

Self-Controlling

Answer 3

●Keeping feelings/emotions to oneself
Example: When asked how she is feeling after receiving positive genetic testing results for BRCA2, the client simply states “I’m fine” and does not say anything further.

Question 4

Seeking Social Support

Answer 4

●Engaging with support groups/conversation to learn more
Example: After discovering her father’s diagnosis of Huntington disease and her risk for carrying the HD gene, the client begins attending a support group for caregivers and family members of individuals with this condition.

Question 5

Accecpting Responsibility

Answer 5

●Self-criticizing or blaming oneself

Example: Upon receiving a prenatal diagnosis of spina bifida, the mother explains, “I should have been more careful about taking my prenatal vitamin every day.”

Question 6

Escape-Avoidance

Answer 6

●Avoiding the unwanted information
●“Hoping for a miracle”
●“There will be a treatment soon”, “Maybe samples got switched”

Question 7

Planning

Answer 7

●Identifying and following a plan

Example: After receiving genetic counseling for a positive second trimester screen for trisomy 18, a couple listens to the various options for their pregnancy, and decides to have a Level II ultrasound followed by an amniocentesis if any abnormalities are observed.

Question 8

Positive Reapprasial

Answer 8

●Identifying existing or potential
Example: After receiving a positive amniocentesis result for Down syndrome, the mother explains “Well, I’d rather have a child with Down syndrome than have no children at all.”

Question 9

Define Coping style

Answer 9

coping style – strategy for solving problems or for modifying the meaning of an experience

• -serve to temporarily protect oneself from reality
• -3 coping styles (seeking social support, plan, and positive reappraisal) have the greatest likelihood of leading to a positive outcome

Question 10

What are 2 broad types of coping styles?

Answer 10

Problem-focused:

• —-Directed toward changing the circumstances confronting the individual
• —-Predominant coping strategy when a stressful situation is amenable to change that will reduce its negative or undesirable aspects

Emotion-focuse

• —Directed toward reducing emotional distress
• —Predominant coping strategy when a situation appears unchangable
• —-Plays a critical role in the individual’s psychological adaptation to the new set of circumstances