Personal resources and selected aspects of psychological functioning of ill oncological youths

Introduction: Cancer in adolescence is a risk factor of disorganization behavior that may introduce malfunctions. It is important to identify the resources that may have a protective role for the functioning and development of young people, in this situation. The main objective of the survey was to explain whether there is a connection between i.e. resilience and coping strategies of young peoples with cancer and selected aspects of their psychological functioning.

Material and methods: The survey covered 60 adolescents: 30 people suffering from oncological diseases and 30 healthy people; 15 girls and 15 boys in each group (M = 13.43, SD = 1.88). The study was conducted by using the Resilience Measurement Scale (SPP-18), “How do you cope?” Questionnaire (JSR) and Family Drawing Test.

Results and conclusions: Adolescent patients with cancer has a lower level of sense of humor and is less open to new experiences, but has higher personal competences and tolerability of negative affect, which are sub-dimensions of resilience construct. Comparing to healthy adolescents, oncological treated youth use more intensive of all coping strategies, but is also significantly more likely to use the mechanism of regression. Resilience is weakly bound with the specifics of the psychological functioning of sick oncological adolescents, while the use of coping strategies is very important. Cancer is a source of significant burdens of youths, but it serves to educate of competence of remedial.