Mental Problems and Stress Coping Styles of Leukemia Patients

Mental Problems and Coping Styles

Abstract

Cancer is a disease with a high probability of occurrence of psychiatric disorders as well as being the cause of death for millions of people. For many cancer patients, being diagnosed and treated for cancer is an extremely stressful experience that can make individuals vulnerable to long-term negative psychological consequences such as emotional distress, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, fatigue, and impaired quality of life. Coping with stress is an important element of resilience in cancer patients. This research is a descriptive study to examine the mental problems and coping styles of leukemia patients. The population of the study consists of patients with a diagnosis of leukemia who are hospitalized in the Hematology Service of a private hospital in the city center of Gaziantep. A total of 120 people were included in the study, which included patients with a diagnosis of leukemia.It was determined that 61.7% of the patients included in the study were male, mean age was 50.4±17.8 years, 45.0% were 56 years and older, and 65.8% were married. Self-Confident Approach 10.5±4.1, Helpless Approach 10.3±5.3, Submissive Approach 7.9±3.4, Optimistic Approach 6.8±3.0, and Seeking Social Support 6.4± It was found to be 2.5. BSI total score 77.4±27.9, Anxiety 15.8±7.8, Depression 21.5±10, Negative self 14.3±7.3, Somatization 16.4±5.3, Hostility 9.3± 5.4. The mean scores of all sub-dimensions of the patients' coping with stress scale were found to be low. Considering the results of the Brief Symptom Inventory, it was determined that the patients showed moderate mental symptoms, especially depression and somatization symptoms were moderate. Discomfort Severity Index, anxiety, negative self and hostility symptoms were found to be low.