The present study sought to investigate whether some of the personality characteristics observed among cancer patients in the American and International literature are outcomes of cancer, or whether they, in themselves, constitute factors that may be contributing to cancer development.Twenty-five pre-biopsy subjects who were later diagnosed as having benign tumors (Benign Unaware) and twenty pre-biopsy subjects who were later diagnosed as having malignant tumors (Cancer Unaware) were administered the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) and the Fundamental Interpersonal Relationships Orientation-Behavior (FIRO-B). A third group of subjects with already diagnosed malignant tumors who had been informed of their condition (Cancer Aware) were also administered the same instruments.A multivariate analysis of variance revealed that subjects comprising the Cancer Unaware group scored significantly lower (p.4.001) on the Neuroticism Scale of the EPI than both the Benign Unaware and Cancer Aware groups.The subjects comprising the Cancer Aware group scored significantly lower (P4-05) than both the Benign Unaware and the Cancer Unaware groups on the Control Expressed Scale of the FIRO-B.The observed differences obtained by both instruments did not appear to be affected by either the sex or the age of the subjects.On the basis of these data, conclusions were drawn and speculations were made concerning the utilization of psychological interventions in the prevention and treatment of cancer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/179633 |
| Date | January 1981 |
| Creators | Pinders, George Michael |
| Contributors | Dimick, Kenneth M. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | 2, xiii, 178 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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