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Abstract
The cognitive-behavioral model of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) proposes that rigidly
held beliefs act to defend individuals against low self-esteem. This study is the
first to investigate the prevalence of a potential mechanism, the Defensive High Anxious
coping style, among individuals with CFS.
The study comprised 68 participants (24 CFS; 24 healthy volunteers; 20 chronic illness
volunteers). Participants completed the Bendig short form of the Taylor Manifest Anxiety
Scale (B-MAS) and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MC) in order to ascertain
the distribution of participants in each group within the four coping styles defined
by Weinberger et al. [J. Abnorm. Psychol. 88 (1979) 369].
A greater number of participants in the CFS group (46%) were classified as Defensive
High Anxious compared to the two comparison groups [chi(2)(2)=8.84, P=.012].
This study provides support for the existence of defensive coping mechanisms as described
by the cognitive-behavioral model of CFS. Furthermore, it has been suggested that
this particular coping style may impinge directly on physical well being through similar
mechanisms as identified in CFS, and further research linking these areas of research
is warranted.