Coping Mechanisms Used by Cancer Patients to Adapt Daily Stress

Description

Kumari Bhawana and Roselina Singh (Department of Psychology, Ranchi University, Ranchi, Jharkhand)

Cancer is associated with significant psychological distress, requiring patients to adopt various coping mechanisms to manage the physical, emotional, and social challenges of the disease. Understanding coping patterns is important for developing effective psychosocial interventions. To examine the coping mechanisms used by cancer patients and explore gender and educational differences in coping strategies. A cross-sectional, non-experimental study was conducted among 71 cancer patients (36 males & 35 females) aged 30-50 years using purposive sampling from oncology departments of hospitals in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Socio-demographic data and coping strategies were assessed using the Brief COPE Inventory (Carver, 1997). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Owing to non-normal distribution, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman’s correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Significant gender differences were observed in coping strategies (all p < .001). Males reported higher problem-focused and avoidant coping, including planning, active coping, acceptance, emotional support, self-distraction, and substance use. Females reported higher emotion-focused coping, including behavioural disengagement, self-blame, venting, and religious coping. Higher educational attainment was positively associated with problem-focused coping and negatively associated with avoidant coping. Gender significantly predicted all three coping domains, whereas education predicted avoidant and problem-focused coping. Coping strategies among cancer patients differ according to gender and education. Routine psychological assessment and psychosocial interventions may promote adaptive coping and improve psychological well-being and quality of life.