title: Being active or flexible? Role of control coping on quality of life among patients with gastrointestinal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the link between coping and quality of life among patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Two hypotheses were tested. The active-personality hypothesis states that quality of life is associated with the predominant use of primary control coping (PCC) in general. The situational-flexibility hypothesis states that quality of life is related to flexible deployment of PCC and secondary control coping (SCC) according to situational controllability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 180 Chinese adult patients diagnosed with colon or liver cancer. Their perceived controllability of stressors, coping, and quality of life were compared with those of a sex-and age-matched community sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three groups with distinct coping patterns were identified: (a) a flexible group characterized by the use of PCC in controllable situations but SCC in uncontrollable situations, (b) an active group characterized by predominant use of PCC in most situations, and (c) a passive group characterized by predominant use of SCC or avoidant coping in most situations. Patients in the active and the flexible groups had higher perceived controllability and psychological well-being scores than those in the passive group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results provide support for both the active-personality and the situational-flexibility hypotheses among GI cancer patients. Clinical and research implications of the findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. ceci-cheng@hku.hk
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Nga-Yan
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Jasmine Hin-Man
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chio
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Annie On-On
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Wai-Mo
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hui
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires