Abstract
Although cancer patients often experience hopelessness and other psychological problems, research on hopelessness and coping strategies is rare. The objectives of this study were to identify the levels of hopelessness experienced and the coping strategies used by breast, colorectal and stomach cancer patients.200 cancer patients (92 disfigured and 108 non-disfigured were included in the sample. Patients completed the sample survey packets comprising of Beck’s Hopelessness Scale (Beck, 1974) and Ways of Coping Questionnaire (Lazarus & Folkman, 1988). Majority of the cancer patients were in moderate level of hopelessness. Seeking social support coping strategy was used most often by the cancer patients and Confrontive coping strategy was used the least. Significant negative correlation existed between hopelessness and use of coping strategies viz. distancing, self-controlling, accepting responsibility, Planful problem solving and positive reappraisal. t-test revealed more hopelessness in disfigured group of cancer patients. t-test also revealed that self-controlling and positive reappraisal coping strategies were used less by disfigured group of cancer patients.
Highlights
Cancer patients often experience hopelessness and other psychological problems, research on hopelessness and coping strategies is rare
Hopelessness has been found to be present among medically ill patients who meet the criteria for demoralization, according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR),rather than major depression, according to the DSM–IV
Table shows that 60 out of 200 cancer patients have low levels of hopelessness and 41 out of 200 i.e., 20.5% of cancer patients are high on hopelessness
Summary
Cancer patients often experience hopelessness and other psychological problems, research on hopelessness and coping strategies is rare. Compared with individuals who have not had cancer, survivors are more likely to report psychological problems, poorer health, and functional limitations, such as being unable to drive or work (Hewitt, Rowland, &Yancik, 2003).A strong feeling of hopelessness is known to have the potential to cause new cancer to emerge and to die because of the illness (Oz, 2004; Kelleci, 2005; Fadıloglı et al, 2006; Arslan et al, 2009). As for hopelessness, it increases stress and negative expectations about future. Further the differences in hopelessness and coping strategies were assessed in disfigured and nondisfigured cancer patients
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