The effect of coping with stress in predicting the needs, death anxiety, and depression of patients’ relatives in intensive care units

TL;DR

This study shows how stress coping strategies affect the needs, death anxiety, and depression of relatives of ICU patients.

Contribution

The study identifies specific coping styles that correlate with psychological outcomes in ICU patient relatives.

Findings

Higher death anxiety is linked to higher perceived needs in patient relatives.

Confident and optimistic coping styles are associated with lower needs levels.

A holistic approach is needed to address the psychological needs of ICU patient families.

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the effects of coping with stress in predicting the needs, death anxiety, and depression of relatives of patients hospitalized in Intensive Care Units.

A sample of 366 relatives of patients hospitalized in intensive care units was formed, and data were collected face-to-face using a General Information Form, the Needs Scale for Patient Relatives in Intensive Care Units, Turkish Death Anxiety Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Ways of Coping with Stress Scale. The sample consisted of relatives of patients hospitalized in intensive care between September 2021 and June 2022. The data obtained in the study were analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) for Windows 22.0 program.The data were analyzed using numbers, percentages, means, standard deviations, Pearson Correlation, and regression analysis.

The mean total needs score of the patient relatives was found to be 123.462 ± 24.918, the mean death anxiety score was 42.653 ± 19.881, and the mean depression score was 10.500 ± 8.270. In the dimension of coping styles, the means were as follows: self-confident approach 18.954 ± 4.389, desperate approach 20.820 ± 4.306, submissive approach 15.863 ± 3.162, optimistic approach 15.093 ± 2.788, and seeking social support 9.396 ± 2.251. A positive and statistically significant correlation was found between death anxiety and the total needs score (r = 0.393, p < 0.01). This finding indicates that as death anxiety increases, the needs level of the patient’s relatives also increases. Conversely, a negative and statistically significant correlation was found between a confident coping approach and the total needs score (r = − 0.326, p < 0.01). This result shows that as confident coping skills increase, the perceived needs level decreases. Similarly, a negative, strong, and statistically significant correlation was found between an optimistic approach and the total needs score (r = − 0.359, p < 0.01). This finding reveals that individuals who use optimistic coping strategies more frequently have lower needs levels.

Patients’ families have several needs. Increasing the level of needs of patients’ families leads to increased death anxiety, while decreasing self-confidence and optimistic coping strategies. This demonstrates that a holistic approach, focusing not only on the patients but also on the needs of their families, is crucial for preventing potential psychological symptoms.