Personality, Emotions and Coping StylesPredictive Value for the Evolution of Cancer Patients

  1. Cardenal Hernáez, Violeta 1
  2. Cerezo Guzmán, María Victoria 2
  3. Martínez Rodríguez, Joaquina 3
  4. Ortiz Tallo Alarcón, Margarita 2
  5. Blanca Mena, María José 2
  1. 1 Universidad Complutense de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Complutense de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR 02p0gd045

  2. 2 Universidad de Málaga
    info

    Universidad de Málaga

    Málaga, España

    ROR https://ror.org/036b2ww28

  3. 3 Clínica Nuestra Señora de Belén de Murcia
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Journal:
The Spanish Journal of Psychology

ISSN: 1138-7416

Year of publication: 2012

Volume: 15

Issue: 2

Pages: 756-767

Type: Article

DOI: 10.5209/REV_SJOP.2012.V15.N2.38887 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: The Spanish Journal of Psychology

Abstract

This study had a twofold goal: to define differences in psychological aspects between cancer patients and a control group and to explore the predictive value of such aspects for the evolution of the disease two years later. Firstly, personality, anxiety, anger and depression were assessed in both groups. Results of t-analyses revealed significant group differences. In personality, cancer patients had higher levels of neuroticism and lower levels of extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness than the control group. In emotional variables, cancer patients had higher levels of anxiety and some aspects of anger, but there were no group differences in depression levels. Secondly, applying a quasi-prospective design, the predictive value of personality, emotions and coping styles for the evolution of cancer (favourable or unfavourable) was explored using generalized linear models and logistic regression. A four-predictor logistic model was fitted: Anger Expression-In, Resignation, Self-blame and Conscientiousness, indicating that the higher Anger Expression-in, Resignation, and Self-blame scores together with a lower Conscientiousness score, the more likely it is for patients' cancer to evolve unfavourably. These results indicate the crucial role of psychological aspects for the evolution of the disease and the need to include such aspects in the design of clinical interventions.

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Funding information

This study forms part of the “Personality, Chronic Stress, and Health” research project, funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (Reference Number BSO2002-00910).

Funders

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