Abstract

The literature review portrays a reasonable picture of the role of certain copingstrategies in developing hypertension. Objectives: Present research based on self-regulationtheory explored correlation of coping strategies of stress with hypertension. Design: Crosssectional research design. Setting: Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Services Hospital, Ganga RamHospital, Lahore. Period: June 2010 to June 2011. Method & material: Sample (N = 400)outdoor hypertensive males (N = 100) and hypertensive females (N = 100) between ages30-60, and their age matched healthy controls (N= 200, 100 males, 100 females) were takenfrom 3 hospitals. Measures: Brief COPE scale was used to measure coping strategies.Analysis: Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were carried out. Results: Significantpositive correlation of hypertension with active coping, substance use, instrumental support,positive reframing, acceptance, and self-blame was found and active coping, acceptance,instrumental social support and self-blame coping strategies appeared as significant predictorsof hypertension.