Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms, Distress, and Optimism in Mexican Colorectal Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background. ! e diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer are considered highly stressful and potentially traumatic events that can generate post-traumatic stress symptoms and distress among patients. Objective. ! is study assessed levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms, distress, and optimism, as well as di" erences between these conditions relative to sociodemographic and medical variables, in Mexican patients with colorectal cancer. Design. A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed, in which 192 colorectal cancer patients over the age of 18 years participated. ! ey # lled out the following questionnaires in person: a sociodemographic and medical data questionnaire; the Event Impact Scale-Revised (EIE-R); the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); and the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R). Results. ! e results showed that 32.3% of the patients reported post-traumatic stress symptomatology, and 21.4% reported distress. Post-traumatic stress symptoms and distress varied according to age and monthly income. Signi# cant di" erences between the sexes were also observed in the levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms and distress. Post-traumatic stress was positively and signi# cantly related to distress, and negatively and signi# cantly to optimism. Conclusion. Based on these data, we concluded that a signi# cant percentage of colorectal cancer patients present high levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms as well as distress, and that these levels may vary according to sociodemographic and medical characteristics.

Psychometric Properties of a New Mexican Optimism Scale: Ethnopsychological Approach

“…The creation of an alternative scale of optimism in young Mexicans is of interest because research has shown that it has an impact on health and has potential relevance as a predictor, mediator and protector of mental health during youth [48]. It is relevant to evaluate the psychometric properties of a new instrument in young people, as, in subsequent research, it will be possible to study the relationship between optimism and various risk behaviors [49][50][51]. Measuring optimism on a new theoretical basis will allow researchers to assess the effects of optimism interventions and their association with health outcomes that facilitate behavior modification [27].…”