Adaptive tasks and methods of coping with illness and disability

Abstract

An acute health crisis and its progression into a chronic illness or disability (CID) is a turning point in an individual's life. The vivid confrontation with a severe physical illness or injury, prolonged treatment and uncertainty, and intense personal distress has a profound and lasting impact. Most individuals cope reasonably well with such a crisis and are able to recover and achieve a new equilibrium. Some individuals emerge with a more mature outlook and a richer appreciation of life, but others are demoralized and suffer lasting psychological problems. What are the main determinants of individuals' psychosocial adaptation to CID? What adaptive tasks do individuals confront and what coping skills do they use to manage the initial crisis and its aftermath? What coping responses promote psychosocial recovery? To address these issues, we offer a conceptual framework that considers CID as an extended life crisis, describe relevant adaptive tasks and coping skills, and identify the primary determinants and outcomes of adaptive coping. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. All rights reserved.