To explore the mediating role of self-efficacy between social support and coping styles in female patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and to provide a reference for clinical interventions.

A total of 128 female SUI patients admitted to the People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2022 to January 2024 were selected. General information was collected using a self-designed questionnaire. The Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) was used to assess social support, the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) to evaluate self-efficacy, and the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ) to measure coping styles. Correlation analysis and structural equation modeling were employed to analyze the mediating effect of self-efficacy.

Patients aged ≤60 years had higher GSES scores, positive SCSQ scores, total PSSS scores, and scores on its three subscales compared to those aged >60 years, while their negative SCSQ scores were lower (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that GSES scores were positively correlated with PSSS scores and positive SCSQ scores but negatively correlated with negative SCSQ scores in both age groups (r=-0.601, P < 0.05). PSSS scores were positively correlated with positive SCSQ scores (r=0.650, P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with negative SCSQ scores in both age groups. The Amos 24.0 maximum likelihood estimation method was used to construct a mediation model, showing that self-efficacy had a positive effect on positive coping styles (effect values: 0.62 and 0.56 for ≤60 and >60 years, respectively) and a negative effect on negative coping styles (effect values: -0.50 and -0.45, respectively). Social support positively influenced self-efficacy (effect values: 0.59 and 0.65, respectively), while positive coping styles positively influenced social support (effect values: 0.57 and 0.60, respectively), and negative coping styles negatively influenced social support (effect values: -0.40 and-0.51, respectively).

Self-efficacy mediates the relationship between social support and coping styles in female SUI patients, and age significantly affects self-efficacy and coping styles. Enhancing patients’ social support and self-efficacy can promote the adoption of positive coping styles, thereby improving clinical outcomes.