Coping strategies as mediators of uncertainty and psychological distress in patients with advanced cancer

Purpose Uncertainty in the context of advanced cancer diagnosis often incurs significant psychological distress. The aims were to evaluate the incidence of psychological distress upon diagnosis of advanced cancer and to analyze whether the relationship between illness uncertainty and psychological d...

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Published in:Psycho-oncology (Chichester, England) England), 2023-11, Vol.32 (11), p.1694-1701
Main Authors: Obispo, Berta, Cruz‐Castellanos, Patricia, Fernández‐Montes, Ana, Coca‐Membribes, Sara, Rogado, Jacobo, Antoñanzas, Mónica, Castillo‐Trujillo, Oscar A., López‐Ceballos, Helena, Rodríguez‐González, Adán, Jiménez‐Fonseca, Paula, Calderon, Caterina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
anxious preoccupation
Attitudes
Avoidance behavior
Cancer
Clinical significance
cognitive avoidance
Coping strategies
Helplessness
Medical diagnosis
Mental disorders
Newly diagnosed
Oncology
Palliative care
positive attitude
Preoccupation
Psychological distress
systemic treatment
Uncertainty
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Summary:Purpose Uncertainty in the context of advanced cancer diagnosis often incurs significant psychological distress. The aims were to evaluate the incidence of psychological distress upon diagnosis of advanced cancer and to analyze whether the relationship between illness uncertainty and psychological distress can be mediated by coping strategies. Methods A multicenter, prospective, cross‐sectional study was conducted in 15 medical oncology departments across Spain. Individuals with unresectable advanced cancer completed questionnaires on uncertainty (Michel Uncertainty of Illness Scale, coping strategies (Mental Adjustment to Cancer, M‐MAC), and psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory, BSI‐18) after the diagnostic and treatment appointment and before beginning systemic cancer treatment. Results 841 patients eligible for systemic treatment with palliative intent were included between February 2020 and April 2022. A total of 71.7% had clinically significant levels of psychological distress. Univariate analyses identified that the groups with less psychological distress were male (ηp2 = 0.016), married (ηp2 = 0.006), and had a better performance status (ηp2 = 0.007). The most widely used coping strategies were positive attitude and cognitive avoidance. A positive relationship was found between uncertainty, coping strategies, and psychological distress (p 
ISSN:1057-9249
1099-1611
DOI:10.1002/pon.6219