The Correlation between the First Postoperative Depression of Breast Cancer Patients and the Coping Styles or Social Supports

Objective To study the correlation between the first postoperative depression of breast cancer patients and the coping styles or social supports.Methods 124 breast cancer patients in a Class Ⅲ Grade A hospital in Urumqi selected two weeks after operation but without chemotherapy by cluster sampling from November 2007 to May 2008 were investigated by filling out Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS),Medical Coping Mode Questionnaire,Social Support Rating Scale(SSRS).The depression level was compared to national norm by t-test.Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between depression and the coping style,social sup-port.Results 59.7% of the patients developed depression.No correlation was found between the depression level and the overall cop-ing style,the sub-item facing in the coping style,but depression was negatively correlated with avoidance and in the coping style.Besides,depression was negatively correlated with social support as well as the three sub-items in the social support.Conclusion The level of depression is high in the patients without chemotherapy after operation.Avoidance and obedience in the coping styles as well as social support affect the depression level.Nurses should instruct them with right coping styles,make full use of social support to decrease the depression level and enhance their psychological health level.