Coping and adjustment to breast cancer.
This study examined possible predictors of adjustment to breast cancer. Sixty-one women participated soon after they were diagnosed with Stage I or Stage II breast cancer. Measures were gathered at diagnosis and again 4 months later. Predictor variables included aspects of the disease and treatment process and reported coping behavior. The most consistent predictor of distress and, to a lesser extent, quality of life, was avoidant coping: women who reported more avoidant coping were more distressed. These data fit well with most previous research and suggest one way of identifying women who may be more at risk for special difficulties coping with the diagnosis of breast cancer.
McCaul
K D
KD
Department of Psychology, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58105, USA. MCCAUL@Badlands.Nodak.Edu
Sandgren
A K
AK
King
B
B
O'Donnell
S
S
Branstetter
A
A
Foreman
G
G
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000145:classification*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors