Relationships of positive and negative affect to coping and functional outcomes in systemic sclerosis

Abstract

This study examined the role of two distinct factors of emotion, positive (PA) and negative affect (NA), in adjustment to a chronic rheumatic disease, systemic sclerosis (SSc). Ninety-two patients with a confirmed diagnosis of SSc completed self-report measures assessing PA and NA (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule), coping (Revised Ways of Coping Checklist), and functional outcomes (pain and disability measured with the Health Assessment Questionnaire). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that PA and NA constituted separate, negatively correlated factors. PA and NA showed differential relationships to coping and functional outcomes. Affect mediated the association between coping and functional outcomes after controlling for disease severity. The results suggest the importance of both PA and NA as factors influencing adjustment to chronic illness.