**5. Conclusions**

140 Urinary Incontinence

These results made it possible to construct a model (see Fig. 2) of the factors conditioning

Fig. 2. A model of relations between selected psychological dimensions and HRQOL in

however, are not directly associated with the quality of life.

the less preference for this style, the higher the evaluation of HRQOL.

In this model developed for patients who have undergone TVT surgery, one indirect sequence influencing the quality of life is observed: Neurotism – task-oriented style – quality of life. Neurotism has a negative effect on the selection of the CISS task-oriented style, and this determines a low level of HRQOL. The observed association with the task-oriented style may possibly be the result of dealing with the symptoms, whose severity decreased markedly in the patients' opinion following TVT surgery. Moreover, a direct positive influence of Neurotism is observed for the selection of the CISS emotion-oriented coping style. Additionally, Neurotism promoted a decrease in Agreeability (and therefore supported a confrontational attitude), hence activating emotion-oriented and avoidance-oriented styles. These latter findings,

In the model we developed for this group of women who had undergone TVT there is one indirect sequence of influences affecting HRQOL: Neurotism (-) - CISS task style (-) - HRQOL; that is, a lower level of Neurotism leads to the choice of the task-oriented style, and

According to the assumptions of McCrea and Costa (2005), Neurotism is a personality dimension that reflects the level of emotional adaptation: the higher the score, the greater the susceptibility to experiencing such negative emotions as fear, anger, guilt, the higher the sensitivity to psychological stress, and by the same token the harder it is to cope with a difficult situation, which can have an impact on the subjective lowering of HRQOL. The impact of negative emotions on the possibility of adaptation has been confirmed in many

The indirect influence that our model shows Neurotism exerting on HRQOL is consistent with the findings of other researchers (cf. Ferrie et al., 1984; Norton et al., 1990), who have reported that those women with USI function better who are characterized by a lower level of Neurotism, and with research results indicating that USI patients with low Neurotism

HRQOL for these patients.

women patients with UUI

**4. Discussion** 

studies.

