Gender Differences in the Use of Engagement and Disengagement Coping Strategies in Patients With Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy

Oppegaard, Kate; Dunn, Laura B.; Kober, Kord M.; Mackin, Lynda; Hammer, Marilyn J.; Conley, Yvette P.; Levine, Jon D.; Miaskowski, Christine

doi:10.1188/20.onf.586-594

Cited by 9 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Given that men are less likely to express emotions through venting [68], it is not surprising that females reported higher scores for this coping strategy. These results are consistent with a recent study [69] showing that women with cancer had higher scores of avoidant coping strategies than males. A possible explanation for these findings might be that the employment of venting of emotions may help women with HNC to temporarily distance from negative emotions.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Psychological variables associated with quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: the role of body image distress

Cerea

Sansoni

Scarzello

et al. 2022

Support Care Cancer

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Objective The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between quality of life (QoL) and body image distress in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), considering relevant psychological variables (i.e., coping strategies, social anxiety symptoms, self-esteem, intolerance of uncertainty, pain, and distress). We also aimed to explore gender differences in patients with HNC in terms of relevant psychological variables in HNC. Methods Fifty-one HNC patients (37 males and 14 females) completed self-report questionnaires to assess body image distress, physical and mental QoL, and relevant psychological variables in HNC (coping strategies, social anxiety symptoms, self-esteem, intolerance of uncertainty, pain, and distress) before undergoing treatment. Pearson’s correlations and four-step hierarchical regressions were performed to assess the relationship between body image distress, QoL, and the abovementioned psychological variables, while one-way analyses of variance and one-way analysis of covariance were employed to assess gender differences. Results Physical QoL was associated with body image distress above and beyond disease duration, distress, coping strategies, pain, mental QoL, and self-esteem, while mental QoL was associated with pain above and beyond distress, coping strategies, physical QoL, self-esteem, and body image distress. Concerning gender differences, females scored higher than males on most of the explored psychological variables, except for physical QoL and intolerance of uncertainty, and showed lower mental QoL and self-esteem than males. Conclusion Body image distress and pain emerged as negatively associated with QoL, and almost all the explored psychological variables differed among genders. Psychological interventions targeting body image distress and pain should be promoted in patients with HNC to increase their QoL, while keeping gender differences in mind.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Psychological variables associated with quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: the role of body image distress

Cerea

Sansoni

Scarzello

et al. 2022

Support Care Cancer

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“…In their case, the scales used were very diverse (Ways of Coping Checklist, the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC), Coping Effectiveness Scale, the brief COPE scale), such that the results observed and described are challenging to equate with one another; hence, a satisfactory synthesis of them is complicated to devise. [26][27][28][29][30] In our study, significant differences were noted between the two sexes regarding the extent of use of coping mechanisms only for humour and restraint, in the sense of their greater use by males. No significant gender differences were found in the other coping mechanisms evaluated by COPE.…”

mentioning

confidence: 47%

“…In Oppegard's study, this coping mechanism was much more used by men than women. 30 A possible explanation for our result regarding this coping mechanism, would be the recent timing of the surgical intervention undergone by patients constituting the group, with them still being in recovery, as well as the recency of diagnosis announcement. (Surgery had also led to the diagnosis being confirmed and announced).…”

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confidence: 87%

“…[22][23][24][25] Only few studies in medical literature -about the oncological population -analyse the distinctions in coping with disease with respect to gender. [26][27][28][29][30] Considering the above-mentioned, the current investigation not only assessed the existence of gender differences in anxiety, depression and coping mechanisms used by patients with non-metastatic lung cancer who underwent surgery but also explored the relationship between coping and anxiety/depression.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using the brief COPE, they noted that women related considerably larger use of positive reframing, religion, instrumental support, selfdistraction, denial, and venting, whilst men leaned preferentially towards the directions of humour and substance use. 30 Restraint, from COPE, is absent from the scales used in preceding studies but may be considered a form of active coping. In this context, our result would be contrary to previous studies that have reported in men with cancer, a generally greater tendency to use coping mechanisms of avoidance and abandonment.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gender Differences in Coping, Depression, and Anxiety in Patients with Non-Metastatic Lung Cancer

Hasan¹,

Calma²,

Tudor³

et al. 2022

CMAR

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Background: Depression and anxiety are prevalent issues amongst individuals suffering from thoracic cancer. Gender differences in coping with thoracic cancer have a serious impact upon the management of emotional distress. The purpose of our study has been to assess sex variations in handling anxiety and depression, including the use of coping mechanisms and their relationship with respect to anxiety and depression. Methods: This cross-sectional study registered 18 women and 22 men with non-metastatic lung cancer and operated upon. Preoperatively and at one month post-operatively, the patients were assessed by means of scales (COPE, GAD-7 and PHQ-9). Results: Post-operatively, the intensity of depression and anxiety was substantially greater in males than in females (p = 0.049, p = 0.042). Male individuals tended to use coping mechanisms of humour (p = 0.009) and restraint (p = 0.029) significantly more frequently than women. Moreover, in women, depression correlated significantly with denial and behavioural deactivation (rho = 0.465, p = 0.029, respectively, rho = 0.562, p = 0.006); whilst anxiety, similarly, correlated with positive interpretation, behavioural deactivation, and use of social-emotional support (rho = 0.484, p = 0.022, respectively, rho = 0.590, p = 0.004 and rho = 0.502, p = 0.017). Furthermore, in males, depression correlated significantly with mental deactivation, use of social-instrumental and social-emotional support (rho = 0.702, p = 0.001, respectively, rho = 0.505, p=0.033, and rho = 0.773 with p < 0.001), whilst anxiety correlated significantly with mental deactivation, denial, and use of social-emotional support (rho = 0.597, p = 0.009, respectively, rho = 0.553 with p = 0.017 and rho = 0.755, p < 0.001). Conclusion: There were gender divergences in the use of coping mechanisms and the level of post-surgical anxiety and depression. We found significant positive relationships between some coping mechanisms and depression/anxiety. The patient's gender governs the coping style, which in turn has bearing upon the post-operative evolution.

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Provision of supportive care by an NGO in the face of a dual challenge: cancer and wartime

Hamama,

Kuperman,

Bar-Doron

et al. 2024

Support Care Cancer

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Purpose In this study, we explored the work of Halasartan (Stop Cancer), an Israeli nongovernmental organization (NGO) and unique social support network for cancer patients and survivors aged 18–44, during a war period. Drawing on the conservation of resources (COR) theory, we examined whether self-efficacy, social support, psychological distress, and participation in activities that were geared toward alleviating the war situation at Time 1 (T1) would predict engagement in such activities at Time 2 (T2). Methods A longitudinal design with two time-points was used, and NGO members completed self-report questionnaires. At T1, the cohort comprised 250 members (cancer patients/ survivors); at T2, there were 213. However, only 90 NGO members completed the questionnaires at both time-points. Results A significant reduction in psychological distress was observed over time among participants engaged in the NGO’s activities, but no differences were observed in participants’ self-efficacy or social support. Moreover, participation in NGO activities during wartime at T2 was predicted by biological sex (female), lower self-efficacy, and participation in NGO activities at T1. Conclusion Halasartan (Stop Cancer) played a pivotal role in offering a sense of normalcy, community, and support to young-adult cancer patients and survivors during a period of war. The study underscores the essential nature of NGO activities tailored to the unique needs of this demographic, particularly in times of crisis. A broader implementation of such supportive interventions to enhance the well-being of vulnerable populations is suggested.

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Gender Differences in the Use of Engagement and Disengagement Coping Strategies in Patients With Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy

Cited by 9 publications

References 38 publications

Psychological variables associated with quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: the role of body image distress

Psychological variables associated with quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: the role of body image distress

Gender Differences in Coping, Depression, and Anxiety in Patients with Non-Metastatic Lung Cancer

Provision of supportive care by an NGO in the face of a dual challenge: cancer and wartime

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