The relationship between altruism and managing stress in patients with cancer

This research was conducted to examine the relationship between altruism and coping with stress in cancer patients. The descriptive study was conducted with 188 cancer patients at the Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty Hospital Oncology Clinic between February 10, 2023 and March 15, 2023. The data of the study were collected using the Patient Information Form, Altruism Scale, and SBCS. While evaluating the data, number, percentage, min-max values, mean and standard deviation were used for descriptive statistics . Reliability analysis was performed to test the reliability of the scales. In the comparison of quantitative data in normally distributed data, Independent T Test was used for the difference between two independent groups, and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used for comparing more than two independent groups . Pearson Correlation analysis was used to test the relationship between numerical variables. Altruism Scale total score average is 144,48±27,14 participation in voluntary activities sub-dimension mean score is 24.56±6.25, material aid sub-dimension mean score is 22,11±4,99, helping in traumatic situations sub -dimension mean score is 24,61 ±4,59, helping the elderly/patients sub-dimension mean score is 15,77±3,37, physical strength-based help sub-dimension mean score is 19,07±4,29, helping the elderly/patient sub-dimension mean score is 18,85±3,91, and the mean score of the sub-dimension of help arising from the sense of closeness was determined as 19,48±4,20. Coping with Stress Scale mean total score is 82,98±18,14, avoidance-focused coping sub-dimension mean 28,73±7,05, problem-focused coping sub-dimension mean 30,40±7,39 and social support-focused coping sub-dimension mean score was found to be 23,84±5,60. A positive and significant correlation was found between the Altruism Scale and the Stress Coping Scale total and sub-dimension point averages (r:0.375; p<0.01). It was determined that there was a statistically significant negative correlation between the age of the patients and the help sub-dimension scores during the education process, the number of last cures and the avoidance-focused coping sub-dimension scores (r: -0,164; p<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the total scores of the Altruism Scale according to the chronic disease status of the patients (p<0.05). It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between the scores of the helping sub-dimension and helping the elderly/patients sub-dimension in traumatic situations according to the psychological support status of the patients, and the scores of the help sub-dimension in the education process according to the treatment received by the patients (p<0.05). In the study, it was found that the altruism and stress coping levels of the patients were above the medium level, and the higher the altruism level, the more stress coping. It was concluded that the levels of In line with these results, it is thought that altruism can be used as a method of coping with stress in cancer patients. Keywords: Altruism, Cancer, Coping with stress, Stress.