The Influence of Coping Strategies on Quality of Life from a Gender Perspective

The current study had two main purposes: 1) testing the predictive role of the coping strategies on the four domains of Quality of Life (physical, psychological, relational, and environmental domain), and 2) investigating the effecto of gender as a moderator in the relationship between coping strategies and QoL's dimensions. A total of 600 adults (56% females) participated in the research. Data were collected via a self-reported questionnaire, assessing Quality of Life, coping strategies, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results showed that problem-focused coping strategies, i.e. active coping, positive reframing, and using support, increase quality of life in all its dimensions, whereas emotion-focused, i.e. self-blame, diminishes both physical and psychological QoL. Gender acts as a moderator: social and instrumental enhances relational QoL for women, whereas self-blame is particularly maladaptive for men, as it decrease their QoL in each of the four domains. Findings reveal that coping strategies could be an important consequence of gender linked socialization experiences. Understanding determinants of quality of life is critical for developing policies interested in health promotion