Coping styles and life satisfaction in palliative care

Abstract

Background:Patients in palliative care suffer variously due to underassessment of needs and suboptimal intervention, coupled with lack of access to palliative care. This study attempts to identify effective coping strategies which lead to life satisfaction, among those afflicted with terminal cancer.Materials and Methods:This observational, cross-sectional study was carried out among terminally-ill cancer patients undergoing palliative care. Cancer patients receiving palliative care who give consent and were aged 18 years or older were included in the study. Those with cognitive deficits, delirium, or psychosis were excluded from the study. COPE scale, Temporal Satisfaction with Life Scale, and sociodemographic Performa were administered and analyzed. Pearson's r correlation coefficient test and multiple linear regression analyses were used to evaluate correlation and effect of coping strategies on life satisfaction.Results:Religious coping was the most frequently used coping strategy by patients, followed by acceptance. Females showed higher problem-focused coping, whereas males had higher emotion-focused and avoidant coping strategies. Females manifested more religious coping. Males showed more acceptance of their illness. Those without a partner had significantly higher emotion-focused coping strategies and higher religious coping. Income, social support, and problem-oriented coping were positively related to quality of life. Life satisfaction showed significant negative correlation with denial, substance use, and venting utilized as coping methods.Conclusion:Problem-focused coping (religious coping and acceptance) was found to be more effective than other methods. Patients in palliative care could be instructed for the use of problem-focused coping. Such training might enhance their life satisfaction, helping them experience greater control over the course of illness.

Association of Death Anxiety with Spiritual Well-Being and Religious Coping in Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In the current study, female older adults had higher levels of religious coping than male older adults. This finding is consistent with previous studies, in which female seniors reported higher levels of religiousness than did male seniors (Garg Chauhan and Sabreen 2018 ; Handal and Lace 2017 ; Henrie and Patrick 2014 ). This finding is also consistent with terror management theory (TMT), which states that being male is positively associated with religious doubt and negatively associated with religiousness (Henrie and Patrick 2014 ).…”

Mediation of Coping Strategies among Patients with Advanced Cancer

“…PFC helps them overcome their distress because it involves active efforts to manage stressful situations and eliminate them by modifying individual behaviors. PFC was found to be more effective than other methods in coping with patients' depressive and anxious behaviors (Garg et al, 2018). PFC strategies include being realistic, indulgent, and supportive and learning from others, which enable participants to regain a sense of wellbeing after an emotional challenge (Walshe et al, 2017).…”

The Translation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Persian Version of Brief Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale for Iranian Patients with Cancer

“…In a study on patients with rheumatoid arthritis, it was found that life satisfaction increases by promoting resilience and implementing emotion-oriented coping strategies (36). In patients who received palliative care, the use of spiritual adjustment and emotion-oriented coping strategies, especially in female patients, led to an improved quality of life (37), and as a result, life satisfaction. Promoting coping and adjustment, by making positive changes in patients' mood, leads to the improvement of health-related quality of life in them (38,39), which in turn, results in greater satisfaction with the existing conditions.…”