Coping styles among Japanese women with breast cancer

In order to investigate changes in coping styles before and after diagnosis of cancer, and the relationship between coping styles and emotional states among Japanese women, we conducted a study using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and Dealing With Illness-Coping Inventory. Coping methods such as active-cognitive, active-behavioral and avoidance were found to be more frequently used after the women were diagnosed with cancer than before (p < 0.001). There were also positive correlations between active-reliance behavior and tension-anxiety and depression, between cognitive-passive behavior and depression and lack-of-vigor, between passive-resignation behavior and anger-hostility and confusion, and between avoidance-solitary behavior and anger-hostility, fatigue, depression, lack-of-vigor and confusion. In conclusion, a diagnosis of cancer causes a patient to use more frequently avoidance behavior as well as active coping styles, and these passive/avoidance coping styles are often correlated with negative emotions. These results imply that patients with breast cancer need support considering the relationship between passive/avoidance coping styles and negative emotions.