A Molecular View of Coping Behavior in Older Adults

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess age, gender, ethnicity, and education differences in specific ("molecular") coping behaviors for three older adult age groups. METHODS: Thirty-five specific coping reactions were assessed on the item level for 74 sexagenarians, 70 octogenarians, and 116 centenarians of the Georgia Centenarian Study. RESULTS: A multivariate analysis of covariance revealed significant age group, gender, and education differences for 14 coping reactions. Four items were affected exclusively by age; five were affected only by gender; and three were affected only by education. One item showed age group and education differences; another showed gender and education differences. No ethnicity differences were obtained. The largest effect for an age group difference was found for accepting health problems. DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that a molecular view of specific coping behaviors in reaction to health problems, in addition to global measures of coping, is essential.