Relationship between older persons with cancer’ coping attitudes and mental adjustment

Abstract

Objective Purpose is to examine the relationship between older persons with cancer coping attitudes and patterns of mental adjustment during treatment. Methods: Coping attitudes and patterns of mental adjustment were measured using an original questionnaire and the Mental Adjustment Cancer Scale (MAC) in 193 patients with cancer aged 65 or over under treatment with surgical therapy, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. Results: The mean scores for “Do my best to cope with cancer”,“Make my own decisions on treatment” in coping attitudes showed a significant positive correlation with [fighting spirit] scores in MAC, and “Cancer is just a part of my life”, “At my age, no complaint about cancer development”, “Face cancer in an easy-going manner”, “Do my best to cope with cancer” “Be anxious about my future” were significantly correlated with [fatalism] scores. Conclusions: In conclusion, [fighting spirit] [fatalism] were shown to form the basis for elderly’s mental adjust-ment. [Fatalism] was shown to be a main component of mental adjustment for elderly to develop affirmative coping skills based on their life experiences. In addition, [fighting spirit] was also essential to fulfill their lives, and it may be necessary to support them to keep [fighting spirit] to the end of their lives.