Coping Strategies of Middle-Aged and Older Women Who Have Undergone a Mastectomy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the types of coping strategies used by middle-aged (n = 51) and older women (n = 49) who had a mastectomy and the relationship between the types of coping strategies used and the level of depression they experienced. Although both age groups of women used active-cognitive and active-behavioral coping strategies, more of the older women employed avoidance strategies than their middle-aged counterparts. The type of coping strategies used was not associated with depression levels for the middle-aged women. For older women, using avoidance strategies and not using cognitive strategies were associated with higher depression scores