Abstract

This study investigated the roles of spousal support and coping strategies in mediating the reaction of psychological distress to lung cancer. A battery of tests was administered to 60 lung cancer patients and their spouses one month after diagnosis and to 44 of the couples four months after diagnosis. Three models of analysis were used to test the hypotheses. Results showed that support was significantly related not only to psychological distress per se but to change in distress as well. The coping strategies of wish-fulfilling fantasy, self-blaming denial, and emotional expression were significantly related to greater distress. Moreover, wish-fulfilling fantasy was significantly related to change in distress. Thc results support the interpretations that the spouse's support serves a beneficial function for lung cancer patients in ameliorating psychological distress and that wish-fulfilling fantasy is an especially detrimental strategy for coping with psychological distress.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.