title: Effects of coping style and relaxation on cancer chemotherapy side effects and emotional responses.
abstract: This study was designed to determine (a) the relationship of coping style to cancer chemotherapy side effects and (b) whether coping style moderated the impact of a relaxation intervention on anxiety, depression, and nausea associated with chemotherapy. Forty-eight cancer patients were assigned randomly to receive either progressive muscle relaxation training before chemotherapy (experimental group) or standard care (control group). Spearman correlations indicated that a "blunting" or distraction-oriented coping style was associated with less anticipatory anxiety, less depression, and less nausea during and after chemotherapy. Spearman correlations also indicated that a "monitoring" or information-gathering coping style was associated with more anticipatory anxiety, and more nausea before and during chemotherapy. Although there was a significant effect of the relaxation intervention on posttreatment nausea, there were no other between-group differences. The results did suggest, however, that relaxation was effective in reducing anticipatory anxiety among "blunters," but not "monitors," perhaps because relaxation is a distraction strategy and therefore is consistent with a blunting coping style. The effects of coping and relaxation on pretreatment anxiety may have important implications, because anxiety is a key factor in classic conditioning models of anticipatory nausea and vomiting.
authors: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Cheltenham, Pennsylvania 19012.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Lerman
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Rimer
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Blumberg
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Cristinzio
authors: P F
authors: PF
authors: Engstrom
authors: N
authors: N
authors: MacElwee
authors: K
authors: K
authors: O'Connor
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Seay
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents