Disease representation and its relationship with the coping styles in adolescents with tumours of the musculoskeletal system
The investigation results of the disease representation and its relationship with the coping styles in adolescents (n = 43) with tumour of the musculoskeletal system are discussed. The data obtained before and after surgery for the removal of the musculoskeletal tumour were compared. The results expected in accordance with the hypothesis that estimates of physical and emotional states dominate in adolescents disease representations have not been confirmed. It is shown that disease representation correlates with the social support and coping resources (motivation for recovery) and practically does not include the characteristics of the child’s physical and emotional states. A comparison of the relationship between disease representation and coping styles in subgroups of adolescents with different levels of stress revealed the following differences: with a low level of stress, the motivation for recovery as the child’s internal resource is correlated with an active search for social support which at the stage after surgery, begins to be supported by different styles of coping behaviour - solving the problem and reference to others; intense experience of stress significantly limits the possibilities of a teenager which correlates its disease with the physical and emotional problems solved by passively waiting for help from loved ones. Own resources to cope with difficult life situations in adolescents with high levels of stress are not widely available.