Culver, J. L., Arena, P. L., Antoni, M. H., & Carver, C. S. (2002). Coping and distress among women under treatment for early stage breast cancer: Comparing African Americans, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic Whites. Psycho-Oncology, 11, 495-504.
This study examined coping and distress in African American (n = 8),
Hispanic
(n = 53), and non-Hispanic White (n = 70) women with early stage breast
cancer.
The participants were studied prospectively across a year beginning at
the
time of surgery. African American women reported the lowest levels of
distress
(particularly before surgery) and depression symptoms. Hispanic women
reported
the highest levels of self-distraction as a coping response,
non-Hispanic
Whites reported the highest use of humor. Hispanics reported the
highest
levels of venting, African Americans reported the lowest levels.
African
American and Hispanic women reported more religious coping than
non-Hispanic
Whites. The data also provided evidence of a maladaptive spiral of
distress
and avoidant coping over time. Although some ethnic differences were
identified,
findings also point to a great many similarities across groups.
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