Coping Strategies and Posttraumatic Growth in Mastectomy Patients

Abstract

Coping and posttraumatic growth are crucial factors associated with life stressors like undergoing treatment like mastectomy. The objective of the study is to determine if there are significant differences in coping strategies and post traumatic growth between middle aged women (45-55 years) and older women (56-66 years) who have undergone mastectomy. The study also aims to observe a relationship between Coping Strategies and Posttraumatic Growth in middle-aged women (45-55 years) and older women (56-65 years). A purposive sampling method was used to draw the sample of 50 women who have undergone mastectomy between the age group of 45-65 years from the cosmopolitan city of Hyderabad. Brief COPE Inventory was used to find out the coping strategies employed. Posttraumatic Growth Inventory was used to determine whether posttraumatic growth occurred. Results showed significant differences between coping strategies of denial, behavioral disengagement, self distraction and substance abuse between the two groups. Wherein, middle-aged women were higher in these four coping strategies when compared to older women. Results also showed higher level of Posttraumatic Growth in Older Women. It was found that Coping Strategies are partially correlated to Posttraumatic Growth.