title: The Mediating Role of Mental Adjustment in the Relationship between Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms in Hematological Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression is a particularly common psychological disorder that affects cancer patients. Diagnosed with hematological malignancies constitute a serious unpredictable and uncontrollable medical stress situation and patients are susceptible to suffer from depressive symptoms. The aims of the study were to explore the correlation between perceived stress and depressive symptoms in patients with hematological malignancies, and assess the mediating role of mental adjustment between these variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single center, cross-sectional study was performed by convenience sampling between July 2013 and April 2014 in a hospital of China. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Mini-Mental Adjustment Scale, as well as questions about demographic and clinical factors was distributed to 300 hematological cancer patients. Completed questionnaires were received from 227 inpatients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that perceived stress was positively correlated with depressive symptoms. The mental adjustment significantly mediated the relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among hematological cancer patients perceived stress may be a risk factor for depressive symptoms, whereas positive coping style might be protective against depressive symptoms. Results showed that medical managers could support the development of mental adjustment in the patients to alleviate psychological disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, #39 Huaxiang Road, Shenyang, 110021, China.
authors.forename: Yingchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, #39 Huaxiang Road, Shenyang, 110021, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, #39 Huaxiang Road, Shenyang, 110021, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, #39 Huaxiang Road, Shenyang, 110021, China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, #39 Huaxiang Road, Shenyang, 110021, China.
authors.forename: Zhuogang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires