Coping and Psychological Distress in Young Adults With Advanced Cancer

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Coping and Psychological Distress in Young Adults With Advanced Cancer
This study identifies coping strategies utilized by young adults with advanced cancer and examines the relationship between these coping strategies and psychological distress.

ABSTRACT

Background: Little is known about how young adults (YAs) cope with cancer or about the relationship between coping and psychological distress in YAs with advanced cancer.

Objectives: The goals of this study were to identify coping strategies
used by YAs with advanced cancer and examine the relationship between
these coping strategies and psychological distress.

Methods: Using structured clinical interviews with 53 YAs (aged 20–40 years) with advanced cancer, researchers assessed coping methods, depression, anxiety, and grief. A principal components factor analysis identified underlying coping factors. Regression analyses examined the relationship between these coping factors and depression, anxiety, and grief.

Results: Six coping factors emerged and were labeled as proactive, distancing, negative expression, support-seeking, respite-seeking, and acceptance coping. Acceptance and support-seeking coping styles were used most frequently. Coping by negative expression was positively associated with severity of grief after researchers controlled for depression, anxiety, and confounding variables. Support-seeking coping was positively associated with anxiety after researchers controlled for depression and grief.

Limitations: This study was limited by a cross-sectional design, small sample size, and focus on YAs with advanced cancer.

Conclusions: YAs with advanced cancer utilize a range of coping responses that are uniquely related to psychological distress.


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This study identifies coping strategies utilized by young adults with advanced cancer and examines the relationship between these coping strategies and psychological distress.
This study identifies coping strategies utilized by young adults with advanced cancer and examines the relationship between these coping strategies and psychological distress.

ABSTRACT

Background: Little is known about how young adults (YAs) cope with cancer or about the relationship between coping and psychological distress in YAs with advanced cancer.

Objectives: The goals of this study were to identify coping strategies
used by YAs with advanced cancer and examine the relationship between
these coping strategies and psychological distress.

Methods: Using structured clinical interviews with 53 YAs (aged 20–40 years) with advanced cancer, researchers assessed coping methods, depression, anxiety, and grief. A principal components factor analysis identified underlying coping factors. Regression analyses examined the relationship between these coping factors and depression, anxiety, and grief.

Results: Six coping factors emerged and were labeled as proactive, distancing, negative expression, support-seeking, respite-seeking, and acceptance coping. Acceptance and support-seeking coping styles were used most frequently. Coping by negative expression was positively associated with severity of grief after researchers controlled for depression, anxiety, and confounding variables. Support-seeking coping was positively associated with anxiety after researchers controlled for depression and grief.

Limitations: This study was limited by a cross-sectional design, small sample size, and focus on YAs with advanced cancer.

Conclusions: YAs with advanced cancer utilize a range of coping responses that are uniquely related to psychological distress.


To read this article, click on the FILES link at left.

ABSTRACT

Background: Little is known about how young adults (YAs) cope with cancer or about the relationship between coping and psychological distress in YAs with advanced cancer.

Objectives: The goals of this study were to identify coping strategies
used by YAs with advanced cancer and examine the relationship between
these coping strategies and psychological distress.

Methods: Using structured clinical interviews with 53 YAs (aged 20–40 years) with advanced cancer, researchers assessed coping methods, depression, anxiety, and grief. A principal components factor analysis identified underlying coping factors. Regression analyses examined the relationship between these coping factors and depression, anxiety, and grief.

Results: Six coping factors emerged and were labeled as proactive, distancing, negative expression, support-seeking, respite-seeking, and acceptance coping. Acceptance and support-seeking coping styles were used most frequently. Coping by negative expression was positively associated with severity of grief after researchers controlled for depression, anxiety, and confounding variables. Support-seeking coping was positively associated with anxiety after researchers controlled for depression and grief.

Limitations: This study was limited by a cross-sectional design, small sample size, and focus on YAs with advanced cancer.

Conclusions: YAs with advanced cancer utilize a range of coping responses that are uniquely related to psychological distress.


To read this article, click on the FILES link at left.

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