Cancer has long been a prevalent illness in Hong Kong which caused tremendous stress on patients and their families. This study examined the cognitive process and behavioral efforts which related to cancer patients’ subjective well-being. Three hypotheses were proposed. First, higher internal locus of control over the cause of illness was hypothesized to relate to poorer subjective well-being through maladaptive coping. Second, higher internal locus of control over the course of illness may result in better subjective well-being through adaptive coping. Third, higher levels of hope may relate to better subjective well-being through adaptive coping. Ninety-eight patients with different types of cancers were recruited in this study. The results showed that internal locus of control over the cause of illness was not directly related to subjective well-being. The relationship between internal locus of control over the course of illness and social/family well-being was fully mediated by adaptive cognitive-behavioral coping and social and activity-engagement coping respectively in two separate mediation analyses. The relationship between levels of hope and social/family well-being was partially mediated by social and activity-engagement coping, while levels of hope significantly associated with social/family, emotional, functional and overall well-being. The study findings enhance understanding of close relationship between cognitive process and behavioral efforts in enhancing cancer patients’ adjustment to the illness. / published_or_final_version / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:HKU/oai:hub.hku.hk:10722/209526 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Pau, Ka-yan, Barbara, 鮑家欣 |
| Publisher | The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) |
| Source Sets | Hong Kong University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | PG_Thesis |
| Rights | The author retains all proprietary rights, (such as patent rights) and the right to use in future works., Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License |
| Relation | HKU Theses Online (HKUTO) |
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