title: Do changes in illness perceptions predict changes in psychological distress among oesophageal cancer survivors?
abstract: This study aimed to examine whether changes in the illness perceptions of oesophageal cancer survivors explain changes in their levels of psychological distress relative to demographic and biomedical variables and coping strategies. Oesophageal cancer survivors completed the Illness Perception Questionnaire - Revised, the Cancer Coping Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at two points in time, 12 months apart. Cluster analysis was used to identify groups of respondents who reported a similar profile of change in their illness perception scores over time. Findings suggested that enhancing control cognitions and encouraging a positive focus coping strategy may be important in improving psychological health.
authors.affiliation: Queen's University Belfast, N. Ireland. m.dempster@qub.ac.uk
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dempster
authors.forename: Noleen K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: McCorry
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: Liam J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Brian T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology