Korean J Hosp Palliat Care.  2015 Mar;18(1):35-41. 10.14475/kjhpc.2015.18.1.35.

The Relationship among the Coping Style, Social Support, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Chemotherapy

• Yang SK
• Kim E

• KMID: 2244624
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14475/kjhpc.2015.18.1.35

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to examine how patients' coping style and social support affect post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in breast cancer patients who are treated with chemotherapy.
METHODS
The sample consisted of 134 outpatients who received breast cancer treatments at the cancer clinic of a university hospital. The collected data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, chi2-test, Pearson correlation coefficients using SPSS for Windows, version 18.0.
RESULTS
Among total, 26.9% of patients were classified into a high-risk PTSD group. In the high-risk group, a positive correlation was found between active and passive coping styles and between social support and active coping styles.
CONCLUSION
In this study, the stronger the social support was, the more active the coping style was for high-risk PTSD patients with breast cancer. Considering the fact that cancer requires life-long self-management, strong social support could improve patients' healthcare capability. Furthermore, solid social support could effectively reduce the stress level and improve the quality of life for breast cancer patients in the high-risk PTSD group.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Post-traumatic stress disorders; Psychological adaptation; Social support

MeSH Terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Breast Neoplasms*
Delivery of Health Care
Drug Therapy*
Humans
Outpatients
Quality of Life
Self Care
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*