International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access
ISSN: 2329-9096
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2329-9096
+44 1300 500008
Inoka Eranganie Weerasinghe1, P. Fonseka2, S.D. Dharmaratne3, J.A.M.S. Jayatilake4
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Int J Phys Med Rehabil
Introduction: Coping refers to a type of behavior that protects people from being psychologically harmed by problematic social experience. Lower limb disability causes many difficulties to the affected person as it affects oneā??s mobility and appearance and is aproblematic social experience to the affected individual creatingstressful situations and psychological distress. People react by using coping strategies, when facing a stressful situation and they engage in multiple behavioral and cognitive efforts to regain or maintain their well-being. Adjustment is the result of using various coping strategies to deal with the different stressful aspects of a situation.Coping strategies utilized among lower limb disabled people are diverse. Coping strategies targeting emotions caused by a stressful event (emotion-focused strategies) have been found to be related to psychosocial and functional adjustment following a lower limb disability. Direct efforts to modify the situation (problem-focused strategies) have been linked to a more positive psychological adjustment following lower limb disability.However, there are no reported studies that have assessed the coping strategies among people with lower limb disability in Sri Lanka. Objective: The aim of the present study is to explore the coping strategies practiced by a group of people with unilateral lower limb disability in Sri Lanka. Method: A sample of 12 persons with lower limb disability who were selected from a major study to assess the physical disability in a selected population in central Sri Lanka was used as the study participants. The present study useda qualitative research method,in-depth interviews to extractdata on coping strategies associated with unilateral limb disability. The in-depth interview guide was based on a conceptual framework produced using the study instrument - Ways of Coping. Results: All participants used one or more coping strategies. Maximum number of coping strategies used by the study participants was four. Both emotion focused and problem focused coping strategieswere used by all participants (n=12).Among the emotionally focused strategiesare expressing anger (n=5), being alone (n=2) and drawing emotional support from family and relatives (n=8). The problem focused strategies are engaging in their religious activities (n=7), engagement in recreational activities (n=5), engagment in their occupation (n=5), thinking that the lower limb disability condition is due to fate (n=2). Conclusions and recommendations: The study participants have used multiple coping methods to overcome their psychological distress and suffering due to limb disability. They used both emotion focused coping as well as problem focused coping strategies. Implementation of awareness programmes on coping strategies for the community dwellers with limb disability are needed depending on their gender and age.