Adaptation to cancer among Polish patients with cervical cancer in relation to illness acceptance, life satisfaction, and dispositional optimism.

Abstract

Objectives: Activating positive coping strategies for cancer in the face of a new, changed health situation, good acceptance of the illness, life satisfaction, and dispositional optimism influence the quality of life of patients and are key factors important in the healing process.

Material and methods: The study was conducted among 101 women diagnosed with cervical cancer. The research took place between 2023 and 2024. The diagnostic survey method was used, along with the following research tools: an original questionnaire, the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), and the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (Mini-MAC).

Results: Sperman correlation analysis showed that LOT-R, SWLS and AIS significantly (p < 0.05) and negatively (r < 0) correlate with three Mini-MAC coping strategies: anxious preoccupation, helplessness-hopelessness, and destructive style. This means that higher levels of these strategies are associated with lower levels of dispositional optimism, life satisfaction, and acceptance of illness. Additionally, LOT-R, SWLS, and AIS significantly (p < 0.05) and positively (r > 0) correlate with two Mini-MAC strategies: fighting spirit and constructive style. Thus, higher levels of these adaptive coping strategies correspond to higher levels of optimism, life satisfaction, and illness acceptance.

Conclusions: The most chosen style by the patients was the constructive style, as opposed to the destructive style, which promotes acceptance of illness, life satisfaction, and dispositional optimism. The determinants influencing acceptance of illness, life satisfaction, and optimism, as well as adaptation to cancer, were age, place of residence, duration of illness, and type of procedure performed.