Cognitive adaptation theory and quality of life in late-stage cancer patients. J Psychosoc Oncol 2013;31(3):266-81
Date
05/10/2013Pubmed ID
23656255DOI
10.1080/07347332.2013.778936Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84877992036 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 11 CitationsAbstract
In this study, the question of whether using slightly illusionary, positive attributions of self, control, and meaning (e.g., cognitive adaptation theory), in the face of disconfirmatory evidence, facilitates quality of life in late-stage cancer patients was examined. Eighty late-stage cancer patients (Mean age = 59.7, SD = 12.5; 48.8% male, 51.2% female; varying cancer diagnoses) who recently failed or refused first line anti-neoplastic treatment completed questionnaires assessing meaning, control, self-esteem, and optimism, as well as physical and psychological quality of life. Findings suggest that greater self-esteem, control, and meaning predicted physical and psychological quality of life, with physical quality of life being influenced by control beliefs and psychological quality of life influenced by self-esteem. Optimism independently predicted physical quality of life and neither mediated nor moderated the relationship between cognitive adaptation and quality of life. Findings suggest that slightly positive, illusionary beliefs of self, control, and meaning predicted quality of life even in the presence of clear, disconfirmatory environmental evidence.
Author List
Christianson HF, Weis JM, Fouad NAAuthor
Heidi F. Christianson PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Adaptation, PsychologicalAdult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cognition
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Staging
Neoplasms
Psychological Theory
Quality of Life
Young Adult
