Relationship between type D personality, symptoms, cancer stigma, and quality of life among patients with lung cancer

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the influence of type D personality on quality of life in patients with lung cancer.

Methods: A correlational, cross-sectional research design was used. A convenience sample of 136 patients with lung cancer were recruited from an outpatient pulmonology clinic. Data collection was performed using a structured questionnaire between July and August 2019. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, an independent t-test, a one-way ANOVA, the χ² test, an ANCOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis, which were performed using the SPSS WIN 25.0 program.

Results: Type D personality was identified in 18.4% of the participants. Patients with type D personality had poorer quality of life and experienced more cancer stigma and more severe symptoms. Type D personality had the strongest association with quality of life among patients with lung cancer, followed by cancer stigma and symptoms. Poor quality of life was associated with non-married status and higher Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group grade.

Conclusions: Type D personality, stigma, symptoms, and demographic and clinical factors should be considered when assessing quality of life in patients with lung cancer. Interventions that reflect these factors, including type D personality, may help enhance quality of life for patients with lung cancer in oncology nursing practice.

Keywords: Lung cancer; Quality of life; Stigma; Symptoms; Type D personality.