Ways of coping and perceived stress in women with spinal cord injury

Using a cross-sectional design, this research aimed to assess whether a three-factor model of Positive Reappraisal, Escape-Avoidance, and Seeking Social Support based on the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WOCQ) appropriately depicts coping within a sample of women with spinal cord injury (SCI). Forty-four community-dwelling women with spinal cord injury were interviewed from two urban rehabilitation facilities in the Midwestern United States. The main outcome measures used were the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the WOCQ. The Positive Reappraisal, Escape-Avoidance, and Seeking Social Support scales of the WOCQ significantly accounted for variance in perceived stress. These three scales appear to be most relevant to perceived stress in women with SCI. Implications for coping research in this population are discussed.