Variables influencing psychosocial adjustment in lung cancer: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationships of daily hassles, demands of illness, and social support to the psychosocial adjustment of people with newly diagnosed, primary lung cancer.


METHODS
Descriptive correlational.


METHODS
A regional oncology center located in a large teaching hospital.


METHODS
56 patients (62% male, 84% white, mean of 60 years old).


METHODS
After being contacted by phone and assigned a functional status score, subjects completed and mailed four study tools: Hassles Scale, Demands of Illness Inventory, Personal Resource Questionnaire, and Patient Adjustment to Illness Scale-Self Report.


METHODS
Daily hassles, demands of illness, social support, and psychosocial adjustment.


RESULTS
Demands of illness were predictive of psychosocial adjustment in the expected direction (i.e., higher scores were associated with decreased adjustment). Race also was a predictor. In general, participants reported relatively high social support, low hassles, moderately low demands of illness, and positive adjustment.


CONCLUSIONS
Demands of illness were predictive of psychosocial adjustment in patients newly diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Demands of illness should be monitored at the time of diagnosis and periodically throughout the course of the disease. Interventions directed at specific types of demands can facilitate patient adjustment.
Klemm
P R
PR
University of Delaware College of Nursing, Newark.
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D044469:Racial Groups; D012494:Sampling Studies; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012944:Social Support