Coping with psychosomatic symptoms: The buffering role of psychological flexibility and impact on quality of life
Date
2019ISSN
1359-10531461-7277
Source
Journal of Health PsychologyVolume
24Issue
2Pages
175-187Google Scholar check
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Individual differences in avoidant coping were hypothesized to exacerbate quality of life impairment associated with somatization and illness anxiety symptoms psychological flexibility was expected to moderate this impairment. Individuals from a random community sample (N = 298 182 females), who met screening criteria for somatization and illness anxiety, reported lower quality of life and psychological flexibility and greater avoidant coping compared to controls. Psychological flexibility significantly moderated the impact of somatization and illness anxiety on quality of life domains. Findings suggest that decreasing avoidant coping through therapy may be promising in mitigating the negative impact of these symptom categories.