A Study Investigating Adjustment to Disease in Cancer Patients

Abstract

This study was conducted to measure the predictors of mental adjustment in adult cancer patients. A total of 70 cancer patients (male = 29, female = 41) suffering from cancer for three months to three years, of age 18 years and above, were interviewed. The respondents were selected through the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale (Watson, Greer & Bliss, 1989), the MAC consists of five subscales: Fighting Spirit, Fatalism, Anxious Preoccupation, Helplessness and Hopelessness. The first section of the schedule contained information related to socio-demographic variables and other disease and treatment related information. As stepwise regression analyses showed less fighting spirit in women patients than men with better socioeconomic status found to be high in fighting spirit, whereas those with low levels of performance possessed greater fatalistic attitude. Education was a significant predictor. A comparatively lower fighting spirit has induced patients showing more helplessness. As compared to Western populations, the current sample showed significantly lower Fatalism and Survival Acceptance. Moreover, patients with higher Fatalism expressed repeated better belief of performance while maladaptive adjustment and positive mood in poor performance. Given the importance of fighting spirit for positive functions of well as the vulnerability of certain subgroups to develop certain maladaptive mood or adjustment, it is urgently clear that successful exercise could decrease the risk of prolonged disease and better regulate.