THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENT AND 2 FACTOR STRUCTURESOF THE MENTAL ADJUSTMENT TO CANCER (MAC) SCALE

Using two different factor structures for the Mental Adjustment to Can cer (MAC) scale, the present study examined the relationship between m ental attitude and emotional adjustment in a sample of 58 cancer patie nts, Analyses, using the original Watson MAC subscales, showed that: ( a) fighting spirit was associated with better emotional adjustment, wh ereas hopelessness/helplessness and anxious preoccupation were associa ted with poor emotional adjustment and (b) subjects with low fighting spirit, high hopelessness/helplessness and moderate anxious preoccupat ion also had high levels of emotional distress. Analyses, on the alter native Schwartz MAC subscales, showed that: (a) positive reappraisal w as associated with better emotional adjustment, whereas hopelessness w as associated with poor emotional adjustment and (b) subjects with low hopelessness, high positive reappraisal, high positive attitude and h igh vigilant participation also had lower levels of emotional distress . However, for both factor structures, certain subscales showed a weak association to mood. Overall, the results validate both MAC factor st ructures, but highlight the need for additional refinement of the MAC scale.