Selected aspects of biopsychosocial functioning during the pandemic in adult patients diagnosed with cancer

Introduction
Cancer is the second most common cause of death in European Union countries. The aim of the study was to assess selected aspects of the biopsychosocial functioning of adult patients diagnosed with cancer and hospitalized during the pandemic.

Material and methods
The study included 185 patients. A diagnostic survey method was applied, making use of several questionnaires, including: a proprietary questionnaire, the family affluence scale, the life satisfaction scale, the social readjustment rating scale by Holmes and Rahe, the perceived stress scale, the coping inventory for stressful situations, the courtauld emotional control scale, the generalised self-efficacy scale, and the de Jong Gierveld loneliness scale.

Results
The average result for life satisfaction was 17.54 points, perceived stress – 21.78 points, sense of loneliness – 13.23 points. 58% of respondents had a low level of self-efficacy. Regarding coping styles, 73% scored low in task-oriented coping, 66% scored high in emotion-focused coping, 45% scored low in avoidant coping and engaging in substitute activities, and 44% showed a low level of social contact-seeking.

Conclusions
The study revealed a low level of life satisfaction, a high level of perceived stress, a relatively high ability to suppress negative emotions, a low effectiveness of coping with difficult situations and obstacles, a relatively low level of loneliness, a low level of a task-oriented style of coping with stress and an avoidant coping style. Patients demonstrated high levels of perceived stress and a predominant use of emotion-focused coping, alongside low engagement in task- and avoidance-oriented coping strategies.