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/lp/american-psychological-association/repressive-adaptation-in-children-with-cancer-S555xIYBzz
- Publisher
- American Psychological Association
- Copyright
- Copyright © 1997 American Psychological Association
- ISSN
- 0278-6133
- eISSN
- 1930-7810
- DOI
- 10.1037/0278-6133.16.6.521
- Publisher site
- See Article on Publisher Site
Abstract
The constructs of repressive adaptive style and avoidant coping (blunting) were assessed as possible explanatory factors for previously reported findings of lower self-reported depression in children with cancer. Pediatric oncology patients 7–16 years old (n= 107) and healthy control participants (n= 442) completed measures of depressive symptoms, trait anxiety, defensiveness, and approach and avoidant coping. Oncology patients scored significantly lower on measures of depression and trait anxiety, and higher on defensiveness. Applying the adaptive style paradigm, the oncology group showed a significant excess of repressors. Depressive symptoms differed as a function of adaptive style, with repressors demonstrating the lowest levels of self-reported depression. Children with cancer also reported greater use of blunting, but this difference was small and appeared unrelated to depression scores. Within the cancer group, repressive adaptation was unrelated to time elapsed since diagnosis. These findings are discussed with reference to the ongoing controversy regarding cancer–personality style associations.
Journal
Health Psychology – American Psychological Association
Published: Nov 1, 1997