Abstract
Cognitive appraisals and coping were examined in children, adolescents, and young adults (N = 134) faced with the diagnosis of cancer in a parent. All 3 age groups perceived low personal control and high external control over their parent's illness and used relatively little problem-focused coping. Adolescents and young adults reported more emotion-focused coping and dual-focused coping (both problem- and emotion-focused in intent) than did preadolescent children. Stage and prognosis of parent's cancer were related to appraisals of greater seriousness and stressfulness, and to more avoidance; however, only appraisals of stress were related to symptoms of anxiety-depression. Emotion-focused coping was related to greater avoidance and to higher symptoms of anxiety-depression; coping and control beliefs did not interact in their association with anxiety-depression symptoms.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 167-175 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Health Psychology |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1996 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Coping
- Parental cancer
- Psychological adjustment
- Stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Applied Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health