Coping strategies of adolescents with cancer

Abstract

Cancer at adolescence is marked by an intersection of crises. To explain how does coping of this illnes were used of the cognitive behavior model of coping strategies. The main goal of this article is to investigate which coping strategies used by teenagers undergoing cancer treatment assisted in a specialized service situated in an tertiary care hospital located in Fortaleza (Ceará, Brazil). It was made the application of the Ways for Coping Problems Scale along with a Sociodemographical and Medical Record Inquiry with teenagers in the age group between 14 and 19 years old. Data were organized and analyzed by means of a SPSS software. The results show the age average is 15,86 years old, with a prevalence of male teenagers (53,33%) procedent from the capital city (60%) and their educational level consisting of incomplete high school. The coping strategy mostly employed by the partakers is focused on religious thinking, a component associated to the patients’ adaptative behaviors that works as an important factor in health protection and to higher resilience levels. The results show the need of understanding more about how does religious aspect work in facing cancer and how can psychology act in strengthening adaptative strategies.