ArticleBMC psychology2025
The interplay of coping styles and optimism/pessimism in shaping mental health in long-term survivors of malignant melanoma: a register-based cohort study.
Article in BMC psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- How do discrepancies between self-rated and physical health predict self-reported overnight hospitalizations in later life?British journal of health psychology · 2026Observational
- Relationship Between Social Support, Symptom Burden, Dyspnea, Perceived Stress, Perceived Stigma, Coping Styles, and Psychological Distress in Patients with Stable COPD: A Structural Equation Model.International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · 2025Observational
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10 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundOptimism and pessimism are stable, overarching dispositions that influence mental health, especially in stressful life situations, such as cancer survival. They have been associated with more specific coping strategies. This study sought to investigate a theoretically-based model of their interplay in shaping depressive and anxiety symptoms to inform prevention and intervention efforts.
methodsThe registry-based study included 689 survivors of malignant melanoma. We assessed sociodemographic and disease-related variables, optimism/pessimism (LOT-R), coping strategies (BC), depressive (PHQ-9), and anxiety symptoms (GAD-7). A structural equation model was conducted to analyse the hypothesized associations, modelling coping strategies (denial/self-blame, seeking external support, active coping) as mediators of the relationship of optimism/pessimism with depressive and anxiety symptoms. As a sensitivity analysis, gender-stratified models were tested.
resultsThe proposed model fit the data well. In the full sample, optimism was directly related to depression and anxiety, and the effects of optimism and pessimism were mediated via denial/self-blame. This indirect effect accounted for 60.8% of the total effect of pessimism on depression, and for 79.55% on anxiety. Stratified analyses showed different patterns of associations by gender, in the sense that the mediation effect was more relevant among men.
conclusionThis study shows the relevance and need of gender-sensitive psychosocial-care. Especially in men, psychosocial interventions should target maladaptive coping strategies. Within women, fostering optimism seems to be particularly important. As the model did not fit as well for women, more gender-sensitive research is needed to understand potentially different risk/protective factors and needs of support.
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