Mediating Role of Coping in the Dispositional Optimism-Posttraumatic Growth Relation in Breast Cancer Patients

Buyukasik-Colak C., Gundogdu-Akturk E., Bozo Ö.

JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY, vol.146, no.5, pp.471-483, 2012 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 146 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2012
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/00223980.2012.654520
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.471-483
  • Keywords: dispositional optimism, coping strategies, posttraumatic growth, breast cancer, SOCIAL SUPPORT, WOMEN, ADJUSTMENT, LIFE, ADAPTATION, DISTRESS, PREDICTS, EMOTION, QUALITY, ILLNESS
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine if coping strategies mediate dispositional optimism-posttraumatic growth relation in postoperative breast cancer patients. The data were collected from 90 patients in two hospitals. Regression analyses revealed that problem-focused coping fully mediated dispositional optimism-posttraumatic growth relation, but emotion-focused coping did not. That is, postoperative breast cancer patients who were optimistic were more likely to use problem-focused coping strategies that, in turn, led to the development of posttraumatic growth. The findings were congruent with the literature in which problem-focused coping was mostly highlighted as compared to emotion-focused coping, and in which optimism and problem-focused coping relationship was emphasized in the path of posttraumatic growth.