Family System and Gender as Predictors of Religious Coping in Pakistani Patients with Hepatitis C

Pakistan has the second-largest number of HCV infections in the world with homogeneity across provinces and no evidence of decline over the past 30 years (Mahmud et al. in BMC Infect Dis 19(1):1-11, 2019). Currently, one in every 20 Pakistanis is suffering from HCV (Haqqi et al. in Viral Immunol 32(9):402-413, 2019). The disease significantly interferes with the everyday life of the patient (Silberbogen et al. in Psychosomatics 50(2):114-122, 2009; Foster in Viral Hepat 16(9):605-611, 2009). The present research aimed to find the role of gender, family system, and social support in predicting coping in patients with hepatitis C (HCV). A sample of 100 HCV patients was taken using purposive sampling from different public and private hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. For assessment, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Brief Cope Inventory were used. Results showed that male hepatitis C patients used a higher level of religious coping. Hepatitis C patients living in a joint family system used a higher level of religious coping. It also showed that there was no significant relationship between social support and coping. Patients suffering from hepatitis C for 2 years or more adopted avoidant coping strategies as compared to the patients diagnosed for 1 year or more. This research has important implications for psychologists, paramedical staff, doctors, social workers, caregivers, peers, and families of patients suffering from HCV. It would help in formulating effective therapeutic interventions. It would also add to the literature in the field of health psychology.