Participants described a total of 141 different self-actions, each of which
formed a component of up to four self-action strategies that were used to aid life
with advanced cancer. The strategies were ‘Taking control’, ‘Promoting self-worth’,
‘Relationship work’, and ‘Distraction’. Employing these strategies led to changes in
thinking and behaviour that were motivated by a desire to sustain or enhance wellbeing.
The pattern of self-action strategies adopted by each individual is theorized to
be dependent on the personal and contextual resources available