Mediating Role of Coping in the Dispositional Optimism-Posttraumatic Growth Relation in Breast Cancer Patients
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY, vol.146, no.5, pp.471-483, 2012 (SSCI, Scopus)
- 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.