Personal resources – resiliency and hope – and coping flexibility among oncological patients: moderating role of the sense of stress

Introduction
The coping flexibility plays a crucial role in adapting to changing conditions of a situation in group of people struggling with mental and somatic health problems. In Western culture, the coping flexibility is a rare subject of research.

Aim and study
The purpose of the research was assessment of the role of personal resources for extension of coping flexibility in group of oncologically ill, including the moderating function of sense of stress.

Material and Methods
The study was conducted on a group of 65 people (40 women, 25 men) on treatment because of various types of cancer. The following methods were used in the study: Resiliency Scale, Adult Hope Scale, Coping Flexibility Scale and Sense of Stress Questionnaire.

Results and conclusions
The results of hierarchical regression analysis showed that sense of stress is not a moderator between resiliency and coping flexibility. The emotional tension significantly moderated relation between Pathways and Agency subsacle and general result in hope and coping flexibility. More in-depth research, indicated strong positive relationship between hope and coping flexibility in the group of people with lower emotional tension. The results of the study suggest, that high level of emotional tension impedes using personal resources in coping flexibility in oncologically ill patients. This proves an important role of psychological interventions, aimed at reduction of emotional tension to enable patients using personal resources.