The moderating effect of demographic variables on coping effectiveness

In spite of the theoretical recognition regarding the role of coping as a moderator, empirical findings indicate that it has only a modest effect as such. This study was designed, therefore, to examine the moderating effect of demographic variables (DV) on coping effectiveness, i.e. active cognitive coping, avoidance coping and active behavioural coping. The study sample was comprised of 12 male and 65 female patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were treated in three outpatient clinics of large hospitals in Israel. Findings suggest that demographic variables do play an important, and somewhat surprising, role in the effectiveness of coping strategies to temper psychological distress. Of the various demographic variables studied, marital status was found to have a significant effect on active cognitive coping and avoidance coping, and adherence to a religious belief system was found to have a significant effect on avoidance coping. The implications of the results for coping effectiveness are discussed.