Fear of success and coping styles as predictors of need for emergency services by the severely and persistently mentally ill.

Abstract

One hundred severe and persistent mentally ill clients receiving services from either of one of two mental health centers in east central Kansas completed questionnaire packets containing a Fear of Success Survey, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, and demographics form. The results of a stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that a model including fear of success and social diversion coping was most predictive of emergency service use during a two year period, f(2,97) = 42.676, P < .001, B= .684. Those participants with high fear of success were found to be more likely to be recidivists (B2 = .657). Those who reported low use of social diversion as a coping style were also more likely to be recidivists (change in B= .027).