L9 Flashcards
Which social groups are chronic conditions most common in?
lower-income, Canadians, women, and seniors
What happens in the initial response to the diagnosis of a chronic disease?
patients are in a state of crisis or shock, anxiety, anger, and lower sense of control; engage in secondary appraisal and emotion-focused coping (e.g. denial)
Denial
inability to recognize, accept, or deal; plays a mixed role (i.e. only beneficial early on as it serves as a protective buffer)
Crisis theory
describes factors that influence how people adjust or cope after first learning about their chronic illness
3 kinds of factors that affect the coping process (crisis theory)
illness-related factors; background, personal factors; physical/social environments
What activities are involved in the coping process?
appraisal, adaptive tasks, and coping skills
2 types of adaptive tasks people with an illness must address
tasks related to the illness or treatment and tasks related to general psychosocial functioning
Examples of tasks related to the illness or treatment
coping with the symptoms or disability of illness; adjusting to the hospital environment, procedures, treatments; developing good relationships with practitioners
Examples of tasks related to general psychosocial functioning
controlling negative feelings and having a positive outlook; maintaining a satisfactory self-image and sense of competence; preserving good relationships; preparing for an uncertain future
5 coping strategies found most useful by cancer patients
social support/direct problem solving, distancing, positive focus, cognitive escape/avoidance, behavioral escape/avoidance
3 maladaptive coping strategies
rumination, interpersonal withdrawal, avoidant coping
What is rumination associated with?
exacerbation of symptoms
What is interpersonal withdrawal associated with?
loneliness and low relationship satisfaction
What is avoidant coping (e.g. denial) associated with?
increased psychological distress, exacerbation of the disease process, poor adjustment to illness
Kinds of denial shown by cancer patients
denial of diagnosis, impact/outcomes, and emotions
Distractive strategies
activities that take one’s mind off their diagnosis; found to reduce distress
Passive escape mechanisms
not confronting or thinking about the diagnosis; decreases psychological well-being
Characteristics of cancer patients who self-blame
higher levels of depression over time, more distress, and lower quality of life
Depression
feelings of sadness, despair, helplessness, hopelessness
Effect of depression on patients
may be delayed as patients try to understand implications of condition; physically debilitating and has a direct impact on symptoms; leads to poorer adjustment to illness
Social challenges cancer patients experience
difficulty seeing family/friends; feeling socially awkward or embarrassed about their condition