Psychological resources were investigated in 150 recently diagnosed adult cancer patients and
in 150 healthy control group members. Before the start of chemotherapy, cancer patients
reported higher levels of optimism, purpose in life than their healthy peers, and self-esteem (only
younger patients) whereas no between-group differences emerged for internal locus of control.
However, the mobilization of psychological resources was limited to younger patients, and
varied by item content. Over a 9-month period, most psychological resources of cancer patients
showed a small but significant decline, and patients with higher illness-related stressors (e.g.
stronger functional impairments, low perceived success of therapy) were more likely to decline
in resources. We conclude that in line with cognitive adaptation theory cancer diagnosis leads to
an initial mobilization of psychological resources in younger patients, but that over the course of
therapy psychological resources decline to a level that would be expected in healthy adults.
Copyright # 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychological resources were investigated in 150 recently diagnosed adult cancer patients and
in 150 healthy control group members. Before the start of chemotherapy, cancer patients
reported higher levels of optimism, purpose in life than their healthy peers, and self-esteem (only
younger patients) whereas no between-group differences emerged for internal locus of control.
However, the mobilization of psychological resources was limited to younger patients, and
varied by item content. Over a 9-month period, most psychological resources of cancer patients
showed a small but significant decline, and patients with higher illness-related stressors (e.g.
stronger functional impairments, low perceived success of therapy) were more likely to decline
in resources. We conclude that in line with cognitive adaptation theory cancer diagnosis leads to
an initial mobilization of psychological resources in younger patients, but that over the course of
therapy psychological resources decline to a level that would be expected in healthy adults.
Copyright # 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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