Total Pain and Illness Acceptance in Pelvic Cancer Patients: Exploring Self-Efficacy and Stress in a Moderated Mediation Model

Dariusz Krok (), Ewa Telka and Beata Zarzycka
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Dariusz Krok: Institute of Psychology, University of Opole, 45-040 Opole, Poland
Ewa Telka: Department of Radiotherapy, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, 44-101 Gliwice, Poland
Beata Zarzycka: Institute of Psychology, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-12

Abstract: Cancer patients experience pain not only in its physical dimension, but also in a broader context that includes psychological, social, and spiritual aspects due to a higher level of anxiety and stress. The present prospective, longitudinal study examined the relationship between total pain and illness acceptance among pelvic cancer patients, taking into consideration the moderated mediation effects of self-efficacy and stress. The study involved a sample of pelvic cancer patients receiving radiotherapy treatment. Assessments were completed at T1 (before radiotherapy), T2 (after 3–4 weeks), and T3 (after radiotherapy) to assess the psychosocial dynamics of illness acceptance ( N = 267). The more physical, psychological, social, and spiritual pain symptoms the patients experienced, the less they accepted negative health conditions and the effects of their illness. Stress moderated the indirect effect between total pain dimensions and illness acceptance through self-efficacy, but it did not moderate the relationship between total pain and illness acceptance. The relationships between total pain dimensions and illness acceptance thus depend on both the mediating effect of self-efficacy and the moderating effect of stress. This highlights the need to control one’s motivation and behavior and manage emotional strain or tension.

Keywords: illness acceptance; pelvic cancer patients; perceived stress; self-efficacy; total pain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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