COPING WITH DIETARY RELAPSE CRISES AND THEIR AFTERMATH

We examined dieters' attempts to cope with dietary relapse crises (Immediate coping) and their aftermath (Restorative coping). We analyzed posttreatment interviews with 57 obese subjects with Type-II diabetes, comparing coping in situations in which subjects lapsed with those in which they survived temptations to overeat. Performance of Immediate coping predicted survival but the particular type of coping made little difference. Eight types of Immediate cognitive coping were equally associated with survival: each was significantly more effective than no coping and equal to the aggregate of the other types. A similar pattern held for 5 types of Immediate behavioral coping, except that social support was no more effective than no coping and restraint was less effective than the other types. Restorative behavioral coping was elicited as a response to overeating, while Restorative cognitive coping seemed elicited by the negative thoughts and feelings that sometimes accompany lapses or temptations. Implications for treatment and future research on relapse crises and coping are discussed.