gms | German Medical Science

Background: Psychosomatic rehabilitation focuses on maintenance of occupation-related skills and enhancement of social participation in individuals with chronic mental disorders. By using diagnostic tools such as Occupation Stress and Coping Inventory (AVEM) ineffective occupation-related attitudes can be identified more effectively. One of the main aspects of therapy is the focus on utilisation and activation of personal resources and skills of individuals. Among others, need for cognition (NFC) is linked to personality traits such as conscientiousness and extraversion as well as an active, problem-focused coping style.

Aim: This study aims at examining the relation between occupation-related attitudes measured by AVEM and need for cognition assessed by ACES (work in progress) in psychosomatic rehabilitation.

Method: ACES and AVEM were administered as part of a larger study to 178 patients (122 females, 56 males; mean age=51,83, SD=8,5) of psychosomatic rehabilitation clinic.

Results/findings: Significant positive correlations were found between cognitive motivation a subscale of ACES, and active problem-solving (r=.623, p<.001) and contentment (r=.497, p<.001), both subscales of AVEM. Volitional self-regulation, subscale of ACES, also positively correlated with both active problem-solving (r=.572, p<.001) and contentment (r=.543, p<.001). Inner resignation (AVEM) correlated negatively with both cognitive motivation (r=-.480, p<.001) and volitional self-regulation (r=-.488, p<.001).

Discussion and conclusions: This broadens the earlier findings on the relation of NFC with other protective personality traits. Further research is needed to examine the underlying mechanisms.