The Relationship Between Illness Perception and Coping Strategies in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the relationship between illness perception and coping strategies in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Given the impact of coping strategies on psychological well-being, quality of life, and treatment adherence, we aimed to address a gap in the literature by examining how illness perceptions influence coping behavior in this population. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 282 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at a single center. Illness perceptions were measured using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ), and coping strategies were assessed using the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to examine the association between the B-IPQ total score and MAC subscale scores, adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. Results: Negative illness perceptions were positively associated with passive coping strategies such as helplessness/hopelessness, fatalism, and anxious preoccupation, while they were negatively associated with active coping strategies such as fighting spirit. The regression models explained 21.3% of the variance in fighting spirit, 31.3% in helplessness/hopelessness, 12.4% in fatalism, and 5.8% in anxious preoccupation. Conclusion: Our findings support the Common-sense Model of Self-regulation, demonstrating that illness perceptions are significantly associated with coping strategies in chemotherapy patients.

Keywords

• Illness perception
• coping
• mental adjustment
• cancer

Kemoterapi Alan Kanser Hastalarında Hastalık Algısı ile Başa Çıkma Stratejileri Arasındaki İlişki

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, kemoterapi alan kanser hastalarında hastalık algısı ile başa çıkma stratejileri arasındaki ilişkinin araştırılması amaçladı. Başa çıkma stratejilerinin psikolojik iyilik hali, yaşam kalitesi ve tedavi uyumuna etkisi göz önünde bulundurularak, bu popülasyonda hastalık algısının başa çıkma yöntemlerini nasıl etkilediğini inceleyerek literatürdeki bir boşluğu doldurmayı hedefledik. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu tek merkezli kesitsel çalışmaya kemoterapi alan 282 kanser hastası dahil edildi. Hastalık algıları Kısa Hastalık Algısı Anketi (B-IPQ) ile, başa çıkma stratejileri ise Kansere Tepki Tarzı Ölçeği (MAC) ile değerlendirildi. Demografik ve klinik özelliklere göre çok değişkenli doğrusal regresyon analizleri yapılarak B-IPQ toplam skoru ile MAC alt ölçek skorları arasındaki ilişki incelendi. Bulgular: Negatif hastalık algısının, çaresizlik/umutsuzluk, kadercilik ve endişeli bekleyiş gibi pasif başa çıkma stratejileri ile pozitif ilişkili, mücadeleci ruh gibi aktif başa çıkma stratejileri ile ise negatif ilişkili olduğu görüldü. Regresyon modelleri, mücadeleci ruhta varyansın %21,3’ünü, çaresizlik/ umutsuzlukta %31,3’ünü, kadercilikte %12,4’ünü ve endişeli bekleyişte %5,8’ini açıklamaktaydı. Sonuç: Bulgularımız, kemoterapi hastalarında hastalık algısının başa çıkma stratejileri ile önemli ölçüde ilişkili olduğunu göstermiştir. Bu bulgular Common-sense Model of Self-regulation modelini desteklemektedir.

Keywords

• Hastalık algısı
• başa çıkma
• zihinsel uyum
• kanser

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