The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies in the Relationship between Self-compassion and Adherence to Treatment in Cardiovascular Patients

Treatment adherence is one of the main factors in achieving maximum clinical efficacy. It seems that self-compassion and coping strategies of patients, can be effective on improving treatment adherence. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of coping strategies in the relationship between self-compassion with treatment adherence in cardiovascular patients.

This research was correlational research using structural equation method. The number of 234 cardiovascular patients referred to the center of the heart of Shahid Madani in 2021 was selected as available samples. Data were collected using Raes's Self-Compassion Scale and coping with the stressful situations of Endler & Parker and Modanloo's Adherence questionnaire and then analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation and path analysis) in SPSS-24 and AMOS-24 software.

The results showed that self-compassion and Problem-Focused coping strategy had a direct, positive and significant effect on treatment adherence (p<0.001), while Emotion-Focused and avoidance strategies had a direct, negative, and significant effect on treatment adherence (p<0.001). Self-compassion also had a direct, positive, and significant effect on Problem-Focused strategy (p<0.001) and a direct, negative, and significant effect on Emotion-Focused and avoidance strategies (p<0.001). The results of Sobel test showed that self-compassion through coping strategies (Problem-Focused Strategy, β=0.19; Emotion-Focused Strategy, β=0.08; Avoidance Strategy, β=0.11) had an indirect, positive and significant effect on treatment adherence (p<0.001).

The results confirmed that self-compassion through coping strategies increased treatment adherence through coping strategies. According to the findings, it is possible to prepare educational programs that affect self-compassion and the using of adaptive coping strategies of patients.