Coping strategies and psychological distress in patients with advanced cancer
Zabalegui, A.
Oncology Nursing Forum 26(9): 1511-1518
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0190-535X PMID: 11064882 Document Number: 506900
To examine the relationship between coping mechanisms and psychological distress in patients with advanced cancer receiving chemotherapy. Descriptive, correlational study. Private and public hospitals in New York, NY. 132 patients, ages 33-83, with advanced breast, ovarian, lung, colorectal, or other cancers. Mail survey using the Ways of Coping Inventory-Cancer Version and the Profile of Mood States. Coping strategies, psychological distress. The coping strategies distancing, cognitive escape-avoidance, and behavioral escape-avoidance were related to psychological distress. Distancing was negatively related (r = -0.25) and cognitive escape-avoidance (r = 0.38) and behavioral escape-avoidance (r = 0.38) were positively related to psychological distress (p < 0.01). Collectively, the coping strategies explained 36% of the variance of psychological distress. The most important coping mechanism contributing to overall psychological distress was behavioral escape-avoidance, followed by cognitive escape-avoidance. Low levels of psychological distress were associated with low levels of cognitive and behavioral escape-avoidance and high levels of distancing. Nursing interventions that reduce cognitive and behavioral escape-avoidance and enhance distancing should be tested, through further research, in relation to their ability to decrease psychological distress in patients with advanced cancer.