Coping style, perceived uncertainty in illness, and distress in individuals with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers.

Examined the relationship of coping style and illness uncertainty to psychological distress in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their primary caregivers. Design: Correlational methods, within-group theory-driven hierarchical regression analyses, and transactional analyses. Ss were 44 dyads composed of individuals with PD and their caregivers. Main Outcome Measures: Hoehn and Yahr Clinical Disability Rating Scale, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, Symptom Distress Checklist-90—Revised, Mischel Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Community Form, and Revised Ways of Coping Checklist. Results: Emotion-focused coping was associated with higher levels of distress for persons with PD, whereas both emotion-focused coping and perceived uncertainty were associated with distress for the caregivers. Transactional analyses between patients and caregivers indicated that higher levels of patient problem-focused coping and perceived uncertainty in illness were associated with increased problems in caregiver distress. Adjustment to PD is influenced by several patient and caregiver variables. The results warrant consideration of a variety of clinical interventions involving patient and caregiver education about the disease and methods for managing the associated symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)