Aim of the studyThe crisis associated with cancer may contribute to the development of anxiety and depressive disorders. Contemporary psycho-oncology focuses on the psychological determinants of the cancer patients functioning to find which disease-coping strategies help the healing process, facilitate the establishment of a good therapeutic relationship and the process of adapting to difficult situations. Aim of the study was assess the psychological functioning of patients with cancer of reproductive organs in the cancer-treating process. The practical aim was to develop guidelines for psychological care dedicated to this group of patients.Material and methodsThe study was conducted in the Reproductive Organs Cancer Clinic in Institute of Oncology in Warsaw using a questionnaire consisting of: Demographic, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Multidimentional Health Locus of Control (MHLC), Cognitive Emotions Regulations Questionaire (CERQ).ResultsSeventy-eight patients aged 22 to 82 (average 54) were examined. Investigation of relationships between anxiety and depression and coping strategies showed: positive correlation of anxiety with self blame and rumination, positive correlation of anxiety and depression with catastrophizing, positive correlation of depression with blaming others, negative correlation of anxiety and depression with acceptance and positive refocusing, negative correlation of depression with refocus of planning and putting into perspective.ConclusionsThe results of this study indicate that there may be an indirect method of diagnosing anxiety and depression disorders in cancer patients by observing the coping strategies to cope with the difficult situation.

Aim of the studyAnalysis of changes in self-perception in post-mastectomy patients and its comparison with self-perception of healthy women.Material and methodsThe subjects of this study were 50 women. The main group was post-mastectomy patients involved in the meetings of the Amazons Club (25 women). The reference group consisted of 25 healthy women. The method used in the study was the ACL (Adjective Check List) test, identifying 37 dimensions of self-image. Oncological patients completed a test twice (for current and pre-cancer self-image), and healthy women once – for current self. Both groups were selected similarly in respect of education level for the purpose of ensuring a similar level of insight.ResultsRetrospective self-image and the current one in the Amazon women group were highly convergent. Existing differences include a reduced need for achievement and dominance, and a lower level of self-confidence. However, the comparison of current self-images in both groups showed a large discrepancy of the results. The Amazon women assess themselves in a much more negative way. Also, their self-image is self-contradictory in certain characteristics.ConclusionsMastectomy is a difficult experience requiring one to re-adapt and to accept oneself thereafter. The way of thinking about oneself is a defence mechanism helping to cope. The work with patients programmes must, therefore, focus on identifying their emotions and thoughts, especially on those they do not want to accept because of the perceived pressure from the environment to effectively and quickly deal with this difficult situation. The increasing acceptance of personal limitations may help the affected women to adjust psychologically faster and easier.

StreszczenieWstęp: Menopauza postrzegana jest często jako utrata jednego z fizycznych atrybutów kobiecości. Jej wystąpienie może więc wywoływać określone zmiany w ocenie siebie. Podobnie z kobiecością nierozerwalnie zwią-zane są piersi, a ich amputacja w przebiegu choroby nowotworowej prowadzi do głębokiego poczucia straty i powoduje konieczność przystosowania się do nowej sytuacji. Obie sytuacje, choć różne, mogą więc dawać podobne efekty psychologiczne.Cel pracy: Sprawdzenie, czy występuje postrzegana zmiana w sposobie oceny swojej kobiecości u kobiet, które doświadczyły menopauzy lub amputacji piersi, oraz czy ich ocena siebie różni się od samooceny kobiet zdrowych, przed menopauzą.Materiał i metody: Przebadano 71 kobiet w trzech grupach: kobiety po menopauzie, kobiety po amputacji piersi, kobiety zdrowe przed menopauzą (grupa kontrolna). Badane z dwu pierwszych grup wypełniały dwukrotnie test ACL Gougha i Heilbruna, ustosunkowując się do pytań: Jaką kobietą jesteś obecnie? oraz Jaką kobietą byłaś przed menopauzą/amputacją piersi? Grupę kontrolną badano raz z użyciem pierwszej sytuacji.Wyniki: Uzyskano wyniki wskazujące na brak postrzegania zmian w obrazie siebie w grupach badawczych, jednak porównanie z grupą kontrolną wskazało na istotnie inny sposób spostrzegania siebie. Kobiety po menopauzie, jak również po amputacji piersi są bardziej wycofane, zależne, niepewne siebie i skryte, z mniejszym poczuciem własnej skuteczności w porównaniu z kobietami zdrowymi.Wnioski: Istnieją prawdopodobnie podobne mechanizmy obronne u kobiet po mastektomii i po menopauzie, pozwalające zanegować oceniane negatywnie zmiany w obrazie siebie przez dopasowanie retrospektywnego obrazu siebie do aktualnego.Słowa kluczowe: menopauza, mastektomia, obraz siebie, kobiecość.

Introduction: Prejudices might negatively influence the well-being of people they concern and often lead to discrimination. Hence, it’s important to search for effective ways to improve intergroup attitudes and implement them during education. One of the most effective known methods is intergroup contact. However, as it’s not always possible to implement, it’s important to search for more accessible methods. The article proposes a new form of reducing prejudices, i.e. a letter of contact with fictitious outgroup members. In such interaction, people receive a letter and are asked for a reply. The method is based on two concepts of improving attitudes: imaginary contact and narrative about positive intergroup interaction. Its effectiveness in improving attitudes was experimentally tested and compared to a typical imaginary contact task. Method: Participants were 179 high school students. They were divided into three experimental conditions: replying to a letter from an outgroup member; replying to a similar letter from an ingroup member; imagining interaction with an ingroup member. After the manipulation, participants completed an intergroup attitudes questionnaire. Results: What had an impact on intergroup attitudes was the perceived pleasure of the task, while the type of manipulation had no effects. Conclusions: Results suggest that in manipulations based on imaginary contact or narration, responses are probably influenced not by imaging interaction with an outgroup member, but by the positive character of the task, which probably has an impact on attitudes by priming a good mood. This calls into question the effectiveness of methods of imaginary contact and narrative about the contact. They probably temporarily affect mood but have no influence on prejudice.