The relationship of interpersonal sensitivity and depression among patients with chronic atrophic gastritis: The mediating role of coping styles

Aims and objectives To investigate the prevalence of depression and the relationship among interpersonal sensitivity, coping styles and depression in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis and explore the mediating role of coping styles between interpersonal sensitivity and depression. Methods A cross‐sectional survey of 101 patients diagnosed with chronic atrophic gastritis aged 33–83 years. All the participants were surveyed face to face and given the informed consent. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the interpersonal sensitivity dimension of the Symptoms Checklist‐90‐Revised, the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire and Hospital Depression Scale were measured. A descriptive analysis and a correlation matrix were used to illuminate the characteristics of subjects and bivariate correlations, respectively. Hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrapping method were used to test the mediating effect of coping styles between interpersonal sensitivity and depression. Results The prevalence of depression among patients with chronic atrophic gastritis was 54.50%. The regression analysis revealed that interpersonal sensitivity was positively related to depression. The effect of interpersonal sensitivity on depression was partially mediated by coping styles, including positive coping and negative coping. Conclusions Depression was highly prevalent in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis. Coping styles played a mediating role between interpersonal sensitivity and depression, which had important clinical implications for physicians and nurses. Relevance to clinical practice Patients who are at high risk of depression should be identified and applicable targets should be made for prevention and intervention, in consideration of mental health of patients with chronic atrophic gastritis.