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responses and this rate of relapse is no different from that associated with no coping response. With the exception of these two types of cognitive coping responses, no difference was found between the effectiveness of other types of coping responses.
In a later study examining the relationship between coping and situational determinants (Shiffman and Jarvik 1987), data from the population of ex-smokers calling a relapse prevention helpline reported in the earlier studies (Shiffman 1982, 1984) were used to demonstrate that the use of coping strategies decays over time. This may be a function of the fact that temptations to smoke diminish over time and therefore coping strategies may be required on fewer occasions. They also found that behavioural coping strategies were affected by situational determinants while cognitive strategies were not, but suggested this finding may be influenced by differential ability in the recall of behavioural and cognitive events. In the present study the relationship between the nature and use of coping strategies over time and the severity and decline in dependence is examined. Atrophy in the need to cope over time, if found, may be a consequence of the decline in dependence. The possibility of differential recall is a source of confound in interpreting findings in the present study.
Litman et al. (1979) showed that cognitive coping and flexibility of coping are more characteristic of people who survive relapse situations. In examining the relationship between coping and relapse, Litman and her colleagues also showed a relationship between severity of dependence and the perceived effectiveness of coping. Their sample was made up of 120 people, 49 of whom had relapsed within the two weeks prior to testing, 29 of whom were known to have been abstinent for six months or more and 42 who had not relapsed within the past two weeks but also had not gained six months abstinence. Survivors were older and saw themselves as more dependent than relapsers. Questions relating to the severity of physiological withdrawal symptoms and self- perception of being "hooked on alcohol" were used to measure dependence. The perception and use of cognitive control as an effective coping strategy distinguished the survivors from the relapsers in this study. Specifically, positive thinking was the type of coping behaviour which distinguished the two groups. However, the authors recognise that the perception of dependence and the perception of cognitive control as an effective coping strategy may be related to each other independently of relapse behaviour or otherwise. A further dimension explored in this study was the number and the variety of coping strategies used. Survivors "may tend to use more coping behaviours and report more types of coping behaviour that are effective than those who relapse". (Litman et al. 1979 p. 93).
Moser and Annis (1996) examined the influence of coping on the outcome of relapse crises in a sample of 125 treated alcoholics during the first 12 weeks following treatment completion. In
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