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The Association of Coping to Physical and Psychological Health Outcomes: A Meta-Analytic Review

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Abstract

We performed a series of meta-analyses examining the associations between coping and health-related outcomes in nonclinical adult samples. Results revealed that problem-focused coping was positively correlated with overall health outcomes, whereas confrontive coping, distancing, self-control, seeking social support, accepting responsibility, avoidance, and wishful thinking were each negatively correlated with overall health outcomes. Neither planful problem solving nor positive reappraisal was significantly associated with overall health outcomes in our analyses. However, type of health outcome (i.e., physical vs. psychological) and situational characteristics (i.e., stressor type, controllability, and duration) moderated many of the overall associations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Social Sciences, El Paso Community College, PO Box 20500, El Paso, TX, 79998-0500

    Julie A. Penley

  2. College of Health Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, 79968

    Joe Tomaka

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, 79968

    John S. Wiebe

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  1. Julie A. Penley
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  2. Joe Tomaka
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Correspondence to Julie A. Penley.

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Penley, J.A., Tomaka, J. & Wiebe, J.S. The Association of Coping to Physical and Psychological Health Outcomes: A Meta-Analytic Review. J Behav Med 25, 551–603 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020641400589

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