Coping Strategies and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Korean Childhood Cancer Survivors
Title
Coping Strategies and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Korean Childhood Cancer Survivors
Author(s)
Kim, Min Ah
; Yi, Jaehee
Keyword
Childhood Cancer
; Cancer Survivors
; Coping
; Stress
; Quality of Life
; 소아암
; 암 생존자
; 대처
; 스트레스
; 삶의 질
Publication Year
2017-09-30
Publisher
Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs
Citation
Health and Social Welfare Review Vol.37 No.3, pp.343-367
Abstract
The aim of this study is to explore the correlations between coping strategies and health-related quality of life among Korean adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Two hundred eighteen Korean childhood cancer survivors completed structured questionnaires on coping strategies and health-related quality of life. The most frequently reported coping strategy was self-distraction (97.2%), followed by positive reframing (95.9%) and active coping (95.9%). An exploratory factor analysis yielded three coping factors: approach (active coping, positive reframing, religion, acceptance, and planning), social (emotional support, instrumental support, self-distraction, and venting), and avoidant (behavioral disengagement, self-blame, and humor). The results of bivariate correlation analyses showed that approach coping was associated with better physical and mental health, whereas both social and avoidant coping were associated with poorer mental health. Identifying coping strategies that childhood cancer survivors use and those strategies’ potential associations with health-related quality of life is of interest to clinicians treating childhood cancer survivors adjusting to stressful experiences.