Work

Emotional Processing Coping Methods and Biomarkers of Stress in Young Adult Testicular Cancer Survivors

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Coping through emotional processing (EP) with cancer-related circumstances can take several forms, including methods thought to be constructive (e.g., planning, meaning making) and unconstructive (e.g., rumination). These forms can have differential relationships with experiences of stress. Associations of coping through constructive and unconstructive EP in expressive writing with salivary stress biomarkers were examined among young adult testicular cancer survivors. Constructive processing was significantly associated with less overall daily cortisol output and smaller salivary alpha-amylase awakening response; unconstructive processing was also associated with lower daily cortisol output. These preliminary results from this exploratory study inform future research associating emotion-regulation coping and biological stress reactivity.

Source: Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology

DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2019.0116

Authors: Katie Darabos, Michael A. Hoyt

Institutions: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of California, Irvine

Language: English

Topic: Cancer survivorship and care

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Livestrong Foundation, National Cancer Institute