“Nobody Likes to Admit What’s Going On”: Avoidance Behaviors of Families Coping with MCI

Managing stress using avoidance coping strategies allows family members to manage their emotional responses as well as cope with changes in their relative’s memory, behavior, and sociability that manifest with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The purpose of this study is to examine the use of avoidance coping behaviors by identifying conditions preceding an avoidance response and specific types of avoidance strategies used to cope with stresses of having a relative with MCI. This investigation is guided by Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) conceptualization of avoidance coping behaviors. Data analysis used Strauss and Corbin’s (1990) method of constant comparison.