Study on the Correlation Between Disease Acceptance, Marital Adjustment and Psychosocial Adaptation of Cervical Cancer Patients After Operation

Abstract

Purpose: To examine psychosocial adaptation and its associated factors among postoperative cervical cancer patients, and to assess the relationships between disease acceptance, marital adjustment, and psychosocial adaptation. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling. From April to July 2024, 231 postoperative cervical cancer patients attending their first postoperative follow-up visit at gynecology oncology outpatient clinics were recruited. Data were collected using the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale - Self-Report (PAIS-SR), the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), and the Lock - Wallace Marital Adjustment Test (MAT). Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were used to examine associations and identify factors independently associated with psychosocial adaptation. Results: The mean PAIS-SR score was 47.29 ± 7.90. Psychosocial adaptation was negatively correlated with disease acceptance ( r = -0.510, P-value < 0.01) and marital adjustment ( r = −0.551, P-value < 0.01). Disease acceptance was positively correlated with marital adjustment ( r = 0.541, P-value < 0.01). In multiple linear regression, disease acceptance, marital adjustment, age, monthly family income, and disease stage were significant predictors of psychosocial adaptation, explaining 46.3% of the variance (adjusted R² = 0.463). Conclusion: Postoperative cervical cancer patients reported a moderately low level of psychosocial adaptation. Higher disease acceptance and greater marital adjustment were associated with better psychosocial adaptation. Interventions that strengthen disease acceptance and couple-based support may help improve psychosocial adaptation during postoperative recovery.

Keywords

Cervical cancer / Psychosocial adaptation / Disease acceptance / Marital Adjustment

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