Social problem solving (SPS), the process by which individuals attempt to cope with stressful life problems, has previously been found to mediate the relationship between stress and disorder-related symptomatology among several medical patient populations. The present study sought to identify a similar relationship among a sample of 63 men diagnosed with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Results found that SPS mediated the relationship between two different measures of stress and CP/CPPS symptoms. These results suggest that attempts to foster patients' SPS efficacy may help reduce CP/CPPS-related negative symptoms.
Keywords: Chronic prostatitis; social problem solving; stress.