TEMPORAL DIFFERENCES IN COPING, MOOD AND STRESS WITH CHEMOTHERAPY.
Contributors: Case Western Reserve University.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 162
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Clinical.; Health Sciences, Oncology.
Description: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among mood, coping, perceived stress and side effects from chemotherapy on individuals newly diagnosed with lung cancer and the temporal experience of these over four consecutive courses of intravenous combination chemotherapy.

Fifty persons, 39 males and 11 females, mean age 62.6 years, with stages III or IV adenocarcinoma of the lung participated in the study.

This longitudinal study had five time points of data collection, pre-treatment and the next four intravenous combination chemotherapy treatments. This design resolved the limitations of others by controlling for disease staging and treatment effects.

Findings showed that perceived stress was moderately high only at the time of pre-treatment and very low during treatment times. Also, four coping strategies were used: seeking social support, planful problem solving, self-control and positive reappraisal. No relationships existed between coping strategies and side effects from chemotherapy, coping and perceived stress, mood and side effects, and perceived stress and side effects. There were no differences in mood between chemotherapeutic protocols and no trends in mood or coping over time. Also, only seven out of twelve side effects from chemotherapy occurred: leukopenia, decreased activity, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, constipation and taste changes. These were not frequent and occurred mostly at treatment time three.

In summary, receiving chemotherapy within a supportive environment is moderately stressful, but only at the time prior to chemotherapy. Subjects used a variety of coping strategies: seeking social support, planful problem solving, self-control, and positive reappraisal.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-06, Section: B, page: 2991.

Thesis (PH.D.)--CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 1991.

School code: 0499.