title: Coping and quality of life in patients with skin tumors in the follow-up stage: The mediating role of body image and psychological morbidity.
abstract: This study examined the relationships between coping style, body image, psychological morbidity, and quality of life. A total of 58 patients who were diagnosed with skin tumors, had been submitted to surgery, and were in the follow-up phase answered the following instruments: dermatology life quality index (DLQI), hospital anxiety and depression scales (HADS), body image scale (BIS), and the mini mental adjustment to cancer scale (Mini-MAC). The results showed that patients with a higher use of the coping styles of helplessness/hopelessness, anxious preoccupation, and cognitive avoidance reported a worse quality of life. Body image mediated the relationship between the coping styles of anxious preoccupation, helplessness/hopelessness, and quality of life. Psychological morbidity mediated the relationship between helplessness/hopelessness and quality of life. Therefore, even in the follow-up phase, it is important that health professionals are aware of the patient's emotional distress and body image to identify those at a higher risk of having a poorer quality of life.
authors: a School of Psychology, University of Minho , Braga , Portugal.
authors: M Graça
authors: MG
authors: Pereira
authors: a School of Psychology, University of Minho , Braga , Portugal.
authors: Vânia
authors: V
authors: Baia
authors: b Institute of Social Sciences, University of Minho , Braga , Portugal.
authors: José C
authors: JC
authors: Machado
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: body image; coping; psychological morbidity; quality of life; skin tumors