Optimism, coping and childhood cancer: A descriptive study
Abstract
Purpose and methods: This study is aimed to assess optimism in the worst self-reported moments of the oncological process in a sample of adolescent survivors of childhood cancer (N=41). It will also explore whether this optimism is associated with coping in such situations as well as with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in survival.
Results: Up to 70.7% of the sample referred to be optimistic in the worst situations of the illness. Those adolescents considered as “pessimistic” showed greater use of “self-blame” and “seek for spiritual support” strategies. However, it could not be observed a significant relationship between optimism and coping in the worst self-reported situations, and only one significant relationship was identified between optimism and the “physical well-being” dimension of HRQoL.
Conclusions: It could not be identified a clear effect of optimism displayed during cancer and HRQoL in survival period. Thus, it is possible that optimism might be a necessary condition to face difficulties in a more adaptative manner during the illness, but not sufficient to have a significant effect on resulting HRQoL after cancer remission. It is even probable that optimism may facilitate the occurrence of other variables that could have a more significant effect on HRQoL in survivorship. More research with childhood population is needed to further clarify these relationships.
Downloads
Article download
Crossmark
License
In order to support the global exchange of knowledge, the journal Psicooncología is allowing unrestricted access to its content as from its publication in this electronic edition, and as such it is an open-access journal. The originals published in this journal are the property of the Complutense University of Madrid and any reproduction thereof in full or in part must cite the source. All content is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 use and distribution licence (CC BY 4.0). This circumstance must be expressly stated in these terms where necessary. You can view the summary and the complete legal text of the licence.
