Shalina O.S., Kotelnikova A.V., Yanushevich O.O., Sorin A.V., Zentsova N.I. Coping Behavior as a Factor in the Formation of Quality of Life in Adolescents with Severe Somatic Diseases
Olga S. Shalina , PhD (Psychology), Associated Professor, Department of Pedagogy and Medical Psychology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia; bld. 8–2, Trubetskaya St., Moscow, Russia, 119048; shalina_o_s_1@staff.sechenov.ru
Anastasia V. Kotelnikova , D.Sc. (Psychology), Associate Professor, Professor, Department of Pedagogy and Medical Psychology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia; bld. 8–2, Trubetskaya St., Moscow, Russia, 119048; kotelnikova_a_v@staff.sechenov.ru
Olga O. Yanushevich , Lecturer, Department of Clinical Psychology, Scientific and Educational Institute of Social, Humanitarian and Economic Sciences named after A.P. Chekhov, Russian University of Medicine, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia; bld.4, Dolgorukovskaya St., Moscow, Russia, 127006; yanushevich97@bk.ru
Anton V. Sorin , Associated Professor, Department of Pedagogy and Medical Psychology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia; bld. 8–2, Trubetskaya St., Moscow, Russia, 119048; sorin_a_v@staff.sechenov.ru
Natalia I. Zentsova , D.Sc. (Psychology), Professor, Department of Pedagogy and Medical Psychology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia; bld. 8–2, Trubetskaya St., Moscow, Russia, 119048; zentsova_n_i@staff.sechenov.ru
The relevance of the study is due to the importance of adolescence for personal development and socialization, which are seriously disrupted in a situation of severe chronic illness. Physical limitations, social deprivation, and the risk of stigmatization require adolescents to mobilize adaptive resources, primarily effective coping strategies, to maintain quality of life; however, the study of the specific features of coping behavior in the context of different nosologies remains insufficiently developed.
The aim of the study was to determine the contribution of coping behavior to the formation of the quality of life of adolescents with severe chronic somatic diseases.
Research methods: 64 adolescents (13–17 years old) undergoing treatment at the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) were examined using the SF-36 psychodiagnostic questionnaire and the «Coping Methods Questionnaire» (E.V. Bityutskaya).
Results: the physical component of quality of life (QoL) was significantly lower in adolescents with IBD and T1DM than in those with IBS, while the socio-psychological aspects of QoL did not significantly differ between the groups. Nosological differences in the structure of coping behavior were revealed: the IBS group was characterized by the maximum use of destructive strategies («self-blame», «distancing») and constructive strategies («self-control», «confrontation»); the IBD group had minimal use of destructive coping («withdrawal», «distancing») and moderate constructive strategies; the T1DM group was the most balanced and diverse repertoire of coping strategies. Correlation analysis confirmed a general pattern: high QoL is positively associated with constructive coping strategies («systematic problem solving», «seeking support», «positive reassessment», «self-control», «confrontation») and negatively with destructive ones («self-blame», «fantasizing», «distancing», «leaving»). The strategy of «systematic problem solving» made a key contribution to QoL in all groups. The uniqueness of the IBS group was manifested in the weak association of QoL with coping and relatively high physical QoL, possibly due to psychological defense mechanisms that eliminate anxiety.
Conclusions: Coping behavior is a significant factor in QoL in adolescents with severe chronic somatic diseases. The effectiveness of different coping strategies varies depending on the nosology, which justifies the need to develop differentiated psychological support programs aimed at teaching constructive coping strategies, primarily «systematic problem solving», taking into account the specifics of the disease (especially for IBD and IBS) and the challenges of adolescence.
Key words: adolescence, coping behavior, coping strategies, quality of life, inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, type 1 diabetes mellitus
For citation: Shalina, O.S., Kotelnikova, A.V., Yanushevich, O.O., Sorin, A.V., Zentsova, N.I. (2026). Coping behavior as a factor in the formation of quality of life in adolescents with severe somatic diseases. New Psychological Research, No. 3, 135–155. DOI: 10.51217/npsyresearch_2026_06_03_07
Keywords: adolescence coping behavior coping strategies quality of life inflammatory bowel diseases irritable bowel syndrome type 1 diabetes mellitus
Received: 26th septemper 2026
Published: 26th septemper 2026