Cognitive coping and goal adjustment are associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety in people with acquired hearing loss

OBJECTIVE: The present study examined the joint influence of cognitive coping strategies and goal adjustment on symptoms of depression and anxiety in people with acquired hearing loss (AHL). DESIGN: The study had a cross-sectional design in which participants were asked to fill in written questionnaires. STUDY SAMPLE: The sample consisted of 119 individuals with moderate to profound AHL, acquired in adulthood. Symptoms of depression and anxiety, cognitive coping strategies, and goal-related coping processes were assessed. RESULTS: Relationships between these variables were statistically tested by Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses. The results showed that ruminative and catastrophizing ways of coping were related to the reporting of more symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. In contrast, refocusing attention to more pleasant issues, disengaging from unattainable goals, and re-engaging in alternative, meaningful goals were related to the reporting of less symptomatology. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide us with important targets for prevention and intervention of mental health problems in people with AHL.