Psychological adjustment in adults with cancer: the self as mediator

The role of the self in adjustment to cancer has been noted but is not well understood. Research and theory on the self suggest that discrepancies between actual and ideal self-conceptions influence adjustment and mediate the effects of disease-related health problems on psychological well-being. This relationship was investigated in a cross-sectional study of 108 persons with cancer. Cancer patients who had more symptoms and worse functional health and perceived their cancer as a chronic rather than an acute disease had higher levels of self-discrepancies and poorer adjustment. Self-discrepancy was a significant mediator of the effects of perceived health status on purpose in life, positive relations with others, and depression.