Perceived competence, appraisal processes and coping in response to a supposed cardiovascular problem

Abstract

This study aimed at examining the contribution of the coping styles, perceived health competence (PHC) and primary and secondary appraisals on situational coping. Relations between PHC and ap-praisals were also studied. The sample was composed by 110 students, who reported their reactions to a supposed high blood pressure. The coping styles were moderately associated with situational coping. Together with PHC, they explained a similar percentage of the variability of situational prob-lem-focused and positive emotion-focused coping to the one shown by the appraisals. The contribu-tion of appraisals was higher concerning negative-emotion oriented coping. Furthermore, PHC was associated with primary and secondary appraisals. These data suggest that both, the specific apprais-als, and the previous perceived competence and coping styles, are factors that determine the way to cope with a health problem