Relationship between type D personality, satisfaction with life and coping with cancer

Introduction: The development of psychooncology extends in a number of important directions; one of them is to look for connections personality determinants of adaptation to the situation of the disease and treatment. Very significant is to describe the role of concept of personality D in somatic diseases, including cancer. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the intensity of type D personality traits, level of satisfaction with life coping strategies and links between these variables among cancer patients during chemiotherapy.

Material and methods: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the intensity of type D personality traits, level of satisfaction with life coping strategies and links between these variables among cancer patients during chemiotherapy.

Results: Type D personality was found in 20% of cancer patients who also have a lower satisfaction with life and tend to use destructive coping strategies. The study showed high satisfaction with life in all patients and an increased use of constructive strategies.

Conclusions: Type D personality is more common in cancer patients than in healthy subjects and is associated with lower satisfaction with life and the destructive style of coping with cancer. However it is necessary to perform longitudinal studies involving a larger group of people.