Gender differences and defensive coping behavior in patients with inflammatory bowel disorders

Abstract

Introduction

Inflammatory bowel disorders (IBD) are chronic diseases with severe course. In this regard, research aimed at identifying adaptive behavior styles potentially significant for individual resilience to disease-related stress is of particular importance

Objectives

The study population included 45 patients with the inflammatory bowel disorders: 19 male, 26 female (mean age 36,0±4,8), whose clinical and experimental psychological characteristics were studied.

Methods

The following methods were used: ‘Life Style Index’ by R. Plutchik, Н. Kellerman, ‘Ways of Coping’ by R. Lazarus, S. Folkman.

Results

The experimental psychological study revealed interdependence of psychological defense mechanisms and coping behaviors. Thus, in female patients, such psychological defense mechanisms as ‘denial r=-0,51’ and ‘compensation г=-0,43’ showed negative correlation with ‘planning problem-solving’ coping strategy and positive correlation with such coping strategies, as ‘escape - avoidance г=0,38’ and ‘confrontation г=0,32’ р<0,05; in male patients, such psychological defense mechanisms as ‘regression г= -0,41;’ and ‘displacement г= -0,30’ demonstrated negative correlation with ‘planning problem-solving’ and ‘exercising self-control’, but positive correlation with such coping strategies, as ‘escape - avoidance г= 0,34’, ‘confrontation г= 0,40;’, р<0,05. Maladaptive attitude towards disease correlated with avoidance reactions in both male and female patients, which is indicated by the central rank position in disease coping structure of ‘confrontation’ coping strategy М=69,3±0,1, along with insufficient utilization of ‘planning problem-solving’ coping strategy М=39.3± 0,1, р< 0,001.

Conclusions

The identified manifestations of psychological maladaptation in both male and female inflammatory bowel disorder patients are moderately pronounced, but require psychotherapeutic correction