Health and coping styles including resources of close family members supporting leukaemia patients

Abstract

Introduction Illness in the family is a new and difficult situation. Illness frequently causes radical changes both in patients’ lives and in their closest family situation. It often threatens currently performed tasks or values pursued by patients and those who support them. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the health condition of people supporting leukaemia patients, strategies for coping with stress, and the level of subjective resources. Material and methods The research involved 100 people supporting leukaemia patients. The methods used in the research included a standardised interview, CISS SES, SOC-29 and ISCL-STAI questionnaires, as well as Bryant’s perceived control of life questionnaire. Results The results show that the health of people supporting leukaemia patients is largely conditioned by emotion-focused style (β= –0.276, p = 0.007) and avoidant attachment style linked to social anxiety (β = 0.444, p = 0.012). As regards the resources, a significant negative health predictor in people supporting leukaemia patients is the anxious personality type (β = –0.375, p = 0.001), whereas a positive health predictor is the sen-se of support provided by others (β = 0.281, p = 0.001). Conclusions People supporting leukaemia patients point to the key role of the subjective resources possessed by an individual. Concentration on negative emotions and deficient resources, in particular the anxious personality, are definitely detrimental to health.