Qualitative-Quantitative (Qual+Quant) Analysis of Ways of Coping As Determinants of Resilience

Introduction: Thematic variables of affective and cognitive components of coping with a stressful life problem were used to conduct a deep-structure analysis of the predictors of resilience and life satisfaction.  Certain emotions like depression and anger, in accord with cognitive coping processes were hypothesized to be significant influences on levels of resilience and life satisfaction.     

Methods: In assessing these complex effects on resilience, a subgroup of 104 Hispanic adult cases (including males and females, drug users and non-drug users) were analyzed using the Integrative Mixed-Methods Methodology. Quantitative data was assessed using the “Your Life Journey” structured interview. Qualitative data was collected using the Platica narrative interview’s “A Difficult Life Problem” section that examined behavioral, affective, cognitive and reflective aspects of the coping process in response to a difficult life problem. A three-stage coding process was conducted to encode qualitative text narrative data into numeric variables in order to conduct  mixed-methods regression model analyses of the determinants of resilience, as measured by two measures of resilience: the Connor-Davidson scale (α= . 95), and a post-interview clinical rating of resilience.

Results: Four-step hierarchical stepwise regression model analyses examined the predictors of three outcome variables: (1) Connor-Davidson Resilience, (2) Clinical Ratings of Resilience, and (3) of Life Satisfaction.  Using a planned hierarchical stepwise variable entry procedure, we examined the effects of: (1) gender and drug user/nonuser groups (as control variables), (2) the qualitative thematic variables of anger and depression; (3) the qualitatively-derived thematic coping variables of acceptance & commitment, and suppression/denial; and (4) the quantitative scale of Problem Solving Coping (α= .64).  Reduced models were used to identify a final solution.  In Model 1, the predictors of CD Resilience were: gender (b= .24, p= .013), and problem solving coping (b= .29, p= .002); for Model 2, Clinical Resilience they were: drug user group (b= - .28, p= .007) and the angry feelings thematic variable (b= - .18, p= .059); and for Model 3, Life Satisfaction, the predictors were: drug users (b= -.35, p< .001), acceptance & commitment (b= .14, p = .09), problem solving coping (b= .34, p < .001).    

Conclusions: The predictive effects of the qualitative coping-related thematic variables were evident, although these varied in relation to the outcome variable and in the context of other predictor variables.