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Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

DOI

10.3906/sag-0904-6

Abstract

The purpose of this study was the evaluation of coping strategies, social support, and depressive symptoms in spouses of patients with hematological cancer. Materials and methods: A descriptive design was used in current study. The study was carried out at the hematology clinic of 2 university hospitals located in İstanbul. The convenience sample consisted of 150 spouses of patients who had hematological cancer. The data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire form, the "Ways of Coping" Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory. Percentage t-tests and Pearson's product moment correlation were used to analyze the data. Results: The most common strategies of coping used by participants were positive reappraisal, distancing, and seeking social support. Perceived social support from family was high and the depressive symptom mean scores of spouses were at a serious level. There was a low negative correlation between coping strategies, perceived social support, and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The spouse's emotional reactions to hematological cancer might include a depressive symptom, which might be alleviated by certain coping strategies and perceived social support. Therefore, the health professionals need to be aware of coping behaviors and social support systems for spouses of patients with hematological cancer.

Keywords

Coping, depression, hematological cancer, social support, spouses

First Page

925

Last Page

936

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