Our purpose was to investigate the importance of the coping process for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Eighty-four patients with classic or definite RA were examined. The relationship between coping strategies and psychological status, functional status, pain, and disease activity was analyzed. Coping was measured by an adapted version of the Ways of Coping Scale, and measures of psychological status, life stress, functional status, pain, and disease activity were also obtained. Canonical correlation revealed a significant relationship between the coping process and psychological status. Coping also was significantly related to functional status, but not to pain or disease activity. Patients who coped by restructuring life goals were found to have better psychological adjustment and functional status than patients who hoped for unrealistic solutions or engaged in self-blame.