MULTIDIMENSIONAL DETERMINANTS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT TO CANCER

This study examined the relationship between psychological adjustment and illness-related, demographic, intrapersonal, family and socio-ecological variables. A total of 132 men and women receiving active cancer treatment completed a battery of instruments designed to measure global psychological functioning, depression, anxiety, coping strategies, domestic and extended family relations, social support quantity and perceived quality, and satisfaction with the health care system. Results revealed that the majority of subjects were experiencing little or no psychological distress; however, 30-35% reported experiencing clinically significant levels of depression, anxiety or global adjustment difficulties. Results further revealed that coping strategies characterized by avoidance or acceptance-resignation, family disturbance and quantity and perceived quality of social support distinguished good versus poor adjustment and were most predictive of psychological distress in this sample.