INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 05 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 02:30 pm - 03:45 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 05: Neuropsychiatry \| Addiction/Dependence \| Stress/Coping \| Emotional/Social Processes Final Abstract #27 A Conceptual Model of Coping in MCI: Exploratory Factor Analysis of Coping Styles in Response to an MCI Diagnosis Jasmine Dixon, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, United States Liselotte De Wit, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, United States Felicia Goldstein, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, United States Kayci Vickers, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, United States Category: MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) Keyword 1: mild cognitive impairment Keyword 2: dementia - Alzheimer's disease Keyword 3: aging disorders Objective: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a syndrome in which individuals experience a decline in cognitive performance without significant functional decline and are at risk for progressing to dementia. Coping strategies among healthy older adults typically follow a three-factor structure including problem-focused, emotion-focused, and dysfunctional coping on established coping inventories. However, coping strategies have been shown in past literature to vary across disease populations and have yet to be evaluated in MCI. The current study aimed to examine higher-order coping styles used by older adults coping with an MCI diagnosis. Participants and Methods: Participants (N = 146) were recently diagnosed with MCI and completed the abbreviated version of the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced inventory (Brief COPE) as part of their baseline assessments for Emory University’s Cognitive Empowerment Program. The Brief COPE (Carver, 1997) is a 28-item scale organized into 14 subscales that assess coping strategies employed in response to a specific situation (i.e., receiving an MCI diagnosis). An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to determine the presence of higher-order coping factors in MCI. Principal axis factoring and oblique (promax) rotation methods were used. Factors with eigen values greater than 1 and factor loadings of \|.30\| were retained. Subscale characteristics, factor correlations, and higher-order factor reliability were examined. Results: Contrary to the original three-factor theory, results of EFA indicated the best fitting model was a five-factor structure. Emergent higher order factors were problem-focused coping (emotional support, instrumental support, active), intentional avoidance (humor, venting, self-blame, self-distraction), positive adaptation (religion, planning, positive reframing, acceptance, active), detachment (self-denial, behavioral disengagement) and reinforcement (substance use, positive reframing). The reinforcement factor was not reliable (𝛼 = -.17) and was therefore removed, resulting in a four-factor model. Cronbach’s alphas for the four factors included in the final model ranged from 𝛼 = .60 - .72, indicating generally good reliability. Problem-focused coping was strongly correlated with positive adaptation (r = .67), weakly correlated with intentional avoidance (r = .22), and moderately correlated with reinforcement (r = .30). Intentional avoidance was moderately correlated with detachment (r = .31) and weakly correlated with positive adaptation (r = .23). Positive adaptation was strongly correlated with reinforcement (r = .51). Conclusions: Results indicate a unique four-factor structure may be most applicable for conceptualizing coping to an MCI diagnosis. The problem-focused coping factor was consistent with the established literature on coping in cognitively healthy adults. However, our results suggested several other factors inconsistent with prior literature including intentional avoidance, positive adaptation, and detachment, ultimately suggest the process of coping with MCI may be distinct from typical aging and elicit different coping styles. To confirm our results, more research is needed to further evaluate coping styles in MCI, the influence of sociocultural factors on coping styles, and the impact of important disease factors, such as stress appraisal, continued cognitive engagement, and adherence to lifestyle interventions.

Poster

02/15/2024
02:30 pm - 03:45 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 05: Neuropsychiatry | Addiction/Dependence | Stress/Coping | Emotional/Social Processes

Final Abstract #27

A Conceptual Model of Coping in MCI: Exploratory Factor Analysis of Coping Styles in Response to an MCI Diagnosis

Jasmine Dixon, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, United States
Liselotte De Wit, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, United States
Felicia Goldstein, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, United States
Kayci Vickers, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, United States

Category: MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment)

Keyword 1: mild cognitive impairment
Keyword 2: dementia - Alzheimer's disease
Keyword 3: aging disorders

Objective:

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a syndrome in which individuals experience a decline in cognitive performance without significant functional decline and are at risk for progressing to dementia. Coping strategies among healthy older adults typically follow a three-factor structure including problem-focused, emotion-focused, and dysfunctional coping on established coping inventories. However, coping strategies have been shown in past literature to vary across disease populations and have yet to be evaluated in MCI. The current study aimed to examine higher-order coping styles used by older adults coping with an MCI diagnosis.

Participants and Methods:

Participants (N = 146) were recently diagnosed with MCI and completed the abbreviated version of the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced inventory (Brief COPE) as part of their baseline assessments for Emory University’s Cognitive Empowerment Program. The Brief COPE (Carver, 1997) is a 28-item scale organized into 14 subscales that assess coping strategies employed in response to a specific situation (i.e., receiving an MCI diagnosis). An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to determine the presence of higher-order coping factors in MCI. Principal axis factoring and oblique (promax) rotation methods were used. Factors with eigen values greater than 1 and factor loadings of |.30| were retained. Subscale characteristics, factor correlations, and higher-order factor reliability were examined.

Results:

Contrary to the original three-factor theory, results of EFA indicated the best fitting model was a five-factor structure. Emergent higher order factors were problem-focused coping (emotional support, instrumental support, active), intentional avoidance (humor, venting, self-blame, self-distraction), positive adaptation (religion, planning, positive reframing, acceptance, active), detachment (self-denial, behavioral disengagement) and reinforcement (substance use, positive reframing). The reinforcement factor was not reliable (𝛼 = -.17) and was therefore removed, resulting in a four-factor model. Cronbach’s alphas for the four factors included in the final model ranged from 𝛼 = .60 - .72, indicating generally good reliability. Problem-focused coping was strongly correlated with positive adaptation (r = .67), weakly correlated with intentional avoidance (r = .22), and moderately correlated with reinforcement (r = .30). Intentional avoidance was moderately correlated with detachment (r = .31) and weakly correlated with positive adaptation (r = .23). Positive adaptation was strongly correlated with reinforcement (r = .51).

Conclusions:

Results indicate a unique four-factor structure may be most applicable for conceptualizing coping to an MCI diagnosis. The problem-focused coping factor was consistent with the established literature on coping in cognitively healthy adults. However, our results suggested several other factors inconsistent with prior literature including intentional avoidance, positive adaptation, and detachment, ultimately suggest the process of coping with MCI may be distinct from typical aging and elicit different coping styles. To confirm our results, more research is needed to further evaluate coping styles in MCI, the influence of sociocultural factors on coping styles, and the impact of important disease factors, such as stress appraisal, continued cognitive engagement, and adherence to lifestyle interventions.