Asian Oncol Nurs.  2012 Feb;12(1):20-26. 10.5388/aon.2012.12.1.20.

Stress and Coping Strategies of Breast Cancer Patients and their Spouses

• Cha KS
• Yoo YS
• Cho OH

• KMID: 2269493
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5388/aon.2012.12.1.20

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the stress and the coping strategies in breast cancer patients and their spouses.
METHODS
The stress level was measured by the Stress Questionnaire of Andersson & Albertsson (2000). The coping strategies were measured by the modified Lazarus & Folkman's Ways of Coping Questionnaire. The data were collected by a survey sampling 49 couples from one hospital in Seoul. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA and paired t-test.
RESULTS
There was no significant differences between the stress level of breast cancer patients and their spouses. The problem-focused coping of breast cancer patients was significant higher than their spouses. The cancer patients and their spouses used problem-focused coping mode more than emotion-focused coping mode. In the problem-focused coping mode, breast cancer patients used two coping strategies - 'seeking information' and 'cognitive reconstruction' - significantly more than their spouses. In emotion-focused coping mode, the breast cancer patients used one coping strategy, 'emotional expression', significantly more than the their spouses.
CONCLUSION
Further study needs to attempt to develop nursing interventions that could improve positive coping strategies.

Keyword

Breast Neoplasms; Life Stress; Coping Behavior

MeSH Terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Family Characteristics
Humans
Spouses
Stress, Psychological
Surveys and Questionnaires

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