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Measuring coping in breast cancer
S R Jarrett1, A J Ramirez, M A Richards
1Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Guy's Hospital, London, U.K.
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
|September 1, 1992
Summary
Women with breast cancer use diverse coping strategies like cognitive avoidance and positive reappraisal. These findings challenge the idea of fixed coping styles and highlight individual differences in managing distress.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Oncology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Emotional distress in breast cancer patients varies significantly among individuals.
- Differences in cognitive and behavioral coping responses may explain these variations.
- Understanding these coping mechanisms is crucial for psychological support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a reliable, situation-specific method for measuring coping responses in women with breast cancer.
- To compare interview-based and self-report assessment methods for coping strategies.
- To investigate the range and types of coping mechanisms employed by breast cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Adaptation of a general coping questionnaire.
- Modification of an interview-based schedule for coping with cancer.
- Utilized complementary approaches (interview and self-report) for assessment.
Main Results:
- Consistent findings were obtained from both interview and self-report methods.
- Extensive use of cognitive avoidance and positive reappraisal was observed.
- The majority of patients utilize a wide repertoire of coping responses, not mutually exclusive styles.
Conclusions:
- Developed and validated situation-specific measures for assessing coping in breast cancer patients.
- Demonstrated that breast cancer patients employ a broad range of coping strategies.
- These measures can be used to explore the link between coping behaviors and psychological outcomes.