Cm. Nezu et al., Cancer and psychological distress: Two investigations regarding the role of social problem-solving, J PSYCH ONC, 16(3-4), 1999, pp. 27-40
Social problem-solving ability has previously been found to be an important
coping mechanism in predicting distress reactions to stressful events in t
he general population. This article describes two studies that empirically
evaluated the applicability of these findings to the psychooncology literat
ure by assessing the relationship between distress and problem-solving in t
wo different groups of cancer patients. In Study 1, 105 patients with recen
tly diagnosed cancer completed inventories addressing social problem-solvin
g, symptoms of distress, and cancer-specific problems. The results indicate
d that the patients who were less effective problem-solvers also reported h
igher levels of anxiety and depression as well as more cancer-related probl
ems. Study 2 involved 64 women who had undergone surgery for breast cancer
between 1 and 13.3 years earlier. A self-report of negative life events ser
ved to control for the effects of recent stressors. The results of this stu
dy indicated that less problem-solving ability was a significant predictor
of psychological distress, whereas time since surgery was not associated wi
th cancer-related distress. Together, the two studies provide strong initia
l support for the existence of an important relationship between social pro
blem-solving and cancer-related distress.