Coping strategies in the non-institutionalized elderly

Identification of coping strategies utilized by the non-institutionalized elderly to reduce emotional distress was the focus of this exploratory study. A descriptive correlational design was used to explore affective coping strategies, and how their use varied with age, gender, individual stressors, daily feelings of stress, and the number of self-related stressors. Descriptive summaries and Pearson's product moment correlation were computed for secondary analysis of data from 900 non-institutionalized elderly.

The results showed that both the use of emotion-focused coping strategies, and the degree of self-reported stress declined with age. Daily feelings of stress were significantly correlated with the degree of self-reported stress. The stressors connected with family, friends, and health were most frequently reported by the respondents. However, the finance stressor was the only one with a significant association with age. Although financial stress was inversely correlated with age, it was positively related to gender. Women reported significantly greater stress connected with family and friends, and finances than men. Health was not significantly correlated with age or gender.

These results highlighted the need to assess the elderly client's perception of stressors and their usual means of coping. The findings suggested implications for nursing education, practice, and research. A greater awareness of potential financial stresses in the elderly and the actual affect of medicare may be accomplished through nursing education and multidisciplinary inservice programs. Practicing nurses must be cautious in their methods of charging equipment and supplies, as well as in recommending necessary interventions which may further increase financial stress for elderly clients. Both education and practice must allow the use of client's preferred coping strategies to promote adaptation. Research into the real and perceived stressors of old age may both increase awareness and reduce the impact of the common stresses of the non-institutionalized elderly.