Younger women's perceptions of coping with breast cancer

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dc.contributor.authorManuel, Janeen C.
dc.contributor.authorBurwell, Stephanie R.
dc.contributor.authorCrawford, Sybil L.
dc.contributor.authorLawrence, Renee H.
dc.contributor.authorFarmer, Deborah F.
dc.contributor.authorHege, Anita
dc.contributor.authorPhillips, Kimberly
dc.contributor.authorAvis, Nancy E.
dc.contributor.departmentDepartment of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine
dc.date2022-08-11T08:11:05.000
dc.date.accessioned2022-08-23T17:32:25Z
dc.date.available2022-08-23T17:32:25Z
dc.date.issued2007-03-01
dc.date.submitted2010-03-01
dc.description.abstractNumerous studies have demonstrated an association between coping strategies and better quality of life after breast cancer. Because younger women consistently show greater psychological morbidity than older women after breast cancer diagnosis, there is great interest in the coping strategies of younger women. The present cross-sectional study used quantitative and qualitative methods to examine coping strategies used by 201 women who were aged 50 years or younger at diagnosis and were 6 months to 3.5 years postdiagnosis. Quantitative results from a modified version of the Ways of Coping scale revealed that the most frequently used coping strategies were positive cognitive restructuring, wishful thinking, and making changes. Qualitative analyses based on open-ended questioning of how women best coped with different stressful aspects of their diagnosis showed that women reported finding different strategies useful depending on the stressor. For example, social support was helpful in dealing with anger or depression, whereas positive cognitive restructuring was more helpful for concerns about the future. Analyses also confirmed that most coping strategies cited in commonly administered coping scales were used frequently by these women. However, several coping strategies not generally measured were also deemed valuable, including engaging in physical activity, using medications, and resting. These findings suggest that clinicians should identify patients' particular stressors and help with coping techniques targeting particular concerns.
dc.identifier.citationCancer Nurs. 2007 Mar-Apr;30(2):85-94. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.NCC.0000265001.72064.dd">Link to article on publisher's site</a>
dc.identifier.contextkey1182211
dc.identifier.doi10.1097/01.NCC.0000265001.72064.dd
dc.identifier.issn0162-220X (Linking)
dc.identifier.legacycoverpagehttps://escholarship.umassmed.edu/wfc_pp/475
dc.identifier.pmid17413773
dc.identifier.submissionpathwfc_pp/475
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/50945
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.relation<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=17413773&dopt=Abstract">Link to Article in PubMed</a>
dc.relation.urlhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.NCC.0000265001.72064.dd
dc.source.issue2
dc.source.journaltitleCancer nursing
dc.source.pages85-94
dc.source.volume30
dc.subjectAdaptation, Physiological
dc.subject*Adaptation, Psychological
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectAge Factors
dc.subjectBiopsy, Needle
dc.subjectBreast Neoplasms
dc.subjectCombined Modality Therapy
dc.subjectCross-Sectional Studies
dc.subjectEducational Status
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subject*Health Status
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectImmunohistochemistry
dc.subjectMiddle Aged
dc.subjectNeoplasm Staging
dc.subjectOncologic Nursing
dc.subjectProbability
dc.subjectPrognosis
dc.subject*Quality of Life
dc.subjectQuestionnaires
dc.subjectRisk Factors
dc.subjectSocioeconomic Factors
dc.subjectSurvival Rate
dc.subjectLife Sciences
dc.subjectMedicine and Health Sciences
dc.subjectWomen's Studies
dc.titleYounger women's perceptions of coping with breast cancer
dc.typeJournal Article
dspace.entity.typePublication
html.description.abstract<p>Numerous studies have demonstrated an association between coping strategies and better quality of life after breast cancer. Because younger women consistently show greater psychological morbidity than older women after breast cancer diagnosis, there is great interest in the coping strategies of younger women. The present cross-sectional study used quantitative and qualitative methods to examine coping strategies used by 201 women who were aged 50 years or younger at diagnosis and were 6 months to 3.5 years postdiagnosis. Quantitative results from a modified version of the Ways of Coping scale revealed that the most frequently used coping strategies were positive cognitive restructuring, wishful thinking, and making changes. Qualitative analyses based on open-ended questioning of how women best coped with different stressful aspects of their diagnosis showed that women reported finding different strategies useful depending on the stressor. For example, social support was helpful in dealing with anger or depression, whereas positive cognitive restructuring was more helpful for concerns about the future. Analyses also confirmed that most coping strategies cited in commonly administered coping scales were used frequently by these women. However, several coping strategies not generally measured were also deemed valuable, including engaging in physical activity, using medications, and resting. These findings suggest that clinicians should identify patients' particular stressors and help with coping techniques targeting particular concerns.</p>
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