Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Sep 1;47(5):586-594.
doi: 10.1188/20.ONF.586-594.

Gender Differences in the Use of Engagement and Disengagement Coping Strategies in Patients With Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy

Kate R Oppegaard  1 , Laura B Dunn  2 , Kord M Kober  1 , Lynda Mackin  1 , Marilyn J Hammer  3 , Yvette P Conley  4 , Jon Levine  1 , Christine Miaskowski  1
Affiliations

Gender Differences in the Use of Engagement and Disengagement Coping Strategies in Patients With Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy

Kate R Oppegaard et al. Oncol Nurs Forum. .

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between gender and coping strategies in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy in outpatient settings.

Sample & setting: Women (N = 277) and men (N = 293) were recruited from two comprehensive cancer centers, one Veterans Affairs hospital, and four community-based oncology programs.

Methods & variables: Coping data were obtained from patients with gastrointestinal (n = 412) or lung (n = 158) cancer through the Brief COPE scale.

Results: In terms of engagement coping strategies, women reported higher scores for positive reframing, religion, and using instrumental support. Men reported higher scores for humor. In terms of disengagement coping strategies, women reported higher scores for denial, venting, and self-distraction. Men reported higher scores for substance use.

Implications for nursing: Gender-based stereotypes of emotional expectations may affect how patients express themselves and the ways in which support is offered. Clinicians should be aware of their own preconceived notions about sex and gender and reflect on how these may influence the psychosocial care they provide.

Keywords: cancer; chemotherapy; coping; disengagement strategies; engagement strategies; gender.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Addis ME, & Mahalik JR (2003, Jan). Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help seeking. American Psychologist, 58(1), 5–14. 10.1037/0003-066x.58.1.5 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Asuzu CC, & Elumelu TN (2013, Oct). Assessing cancer patients’ quality of life and coping mechanisms in Radiotherapy Department of the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Psychooncology, 22(10), 2306–2312. 10.1002/pon.3290 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Berner MM, Kriston L, Bentele M, & Harter M (2007, May). The alcohol use disorders identification test for detecting at-risk drinking: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Studies of Alcohol and Drugs, 68(3), 461–473. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17446987 - PubMed
    1. Brown SP, Westbrook RA, & Challagalla G (2005, Jul). Good cope, bad cope: adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies following a critical negative work event. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(4), 792–798. 10.1037/0021-9010.90.4.792 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Carver CS (1997). You want to measure coping but your protocol’s too long: consider the brief COPE. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 4(1), 92–100. 10.1207/s15327558ijbm0401_6 - DOI - PubMed

Publication types