Aim To investigate the association between life-style and
socioeconomic factors and coping strategies in a community
sample in Iran.
Method As part of a community-based study called Isfahan
Healthy Heart Program, we studied 17 593 individuals
older than 19 living in the central part of Iran. Demographic
and socioeconomic factors (age, sex, occupation status,
marital status, and educational level) and lifestyle variables
(smoking status, leisure time physical activity, and psychological
distress), and coping strategy were recorded. Data
were analyzed by Pearson correlation and multiple linear
regression.
Results Not smoking (women β = -11.293, P < 0.001; men
β = -3.418, P = 0.007), having leisure time physical activity
(women β = 0.017, P = 0.046; men β = 0.005, P = 0.043),
and higher educational level (women β = 0.344, P = 0.015;
men β = 0.406, P = 0.008) were predictors of adaptive
coping strategies, while smoking (women β = 11.849,
P < 0.001; men β = 9.336, P < 0.001), high stress level (women
β = 1.588, P = 0.000; men β = 1.358, P < 0.001), and lower
educational level (women β = -0.443, P = 0.013; men β = -
0.427, P = 0.013) were predictors of maladaptive coping
strategies in both sexes. Non-manual work was a positive
predictor of adaptive (β = 4.983, P < 0.001) and negative
predictor of maladaptive (β = -3.355, P = 0.023) coping skills
in men.
Conclusion Coping strategies of the population in central
Iran were highly influenced by socioeconomic status
and life-style factors. Programs aimed at improving healthy
life-styles and increasing the socioeconomic status could
increase adaptive coping skills and decrease maladaptive
ones and consequently lead to a more healthy society
