Problem-focused, rather than emotion-focused coping, was
used by both male and female patients. Similar results have
been reported in previous research with Chinese chronic heart
failure patients (Lee, unpublished data), Taiwanese heart
surgery patients (Hwang et al. 1997) and Taiwanese cardiac
transplant surgery patients (Chen & Ku 1997). Redeker
(1992) showed that men tend to use more problem-focused
coping than do women. In our study, however, we found that
there is no difference in coping behaviour, except that women
self-blame more than men. In Chinese culture, women are
usually the ones who take care of the family and worry about
other family members. Thus, women could tend to feel guilty
and blame themselves when they are not able to fulfill their
role or cause others to worry about them.