ABSTRACT “Coping Strategies refer to the specific efforts, both behavioral and psychological, that people employ to master, tolerate, reduce, or minimize stressful events” (Taylor 1998). “Posttraumatic Growth refers to positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life circumstances” (Tedeschi & Calhoun 2004). Mastectomy is the surgical removal of partial or the entire breast tissue. The objective of the study is to determine if there are significant differences and relationships in coping strategies between middle aged women (45-55 years) and older women (56-66 years) who have undergone mastectomy and to compare the levels of posttraumatic growth in them. A purposive sampling method was used …show more content…
Mastectomy has five different types (Breastcancer.org). They are : "Simple" or "Total" Mastectomy, Modified Radical Mastectomy, Radical Mastectomy, Partial Mastectomy, and Subcutaneous Mastectomy (Breastcancer.org). A Mastectomy is a harsh approach to an aggressive breast cancer disease which can significantly hamper an overall image and self-esteem of a woman because the breast is an imperative organ in a woman’s body (Mahapatro & Shubbangi 2005; Jamison, Wellisch & Pasnau 1978). Researh analyses indicated that coping strategies were the variables strongly associated with postmastectomy distress (Meyerowitz 1983). About one in fifteen women develop breast cancer (Tarrier, Living with Breast Cancer and Mastectomy). Breast cancer and Mastectomy produce two great sources of psychological stress, one to do with the individual existence and survival, and the other to do with the femininity and self-image (Tarrier, Living with Breast Cancer and Mastectomy). The most common reaction to Mastectomy is anxiety and depression (Tarrier, Living with Breast Cancer and Mastectomy). The most common reason for Mastectomy is breast cancer (A.D.A.M Encyclopedia) Women who have a very high risk of developing breast cancer may choose to have a preventive (or prophylactic) mastectomy to reduce the risk of breast cancer (A.D.A.M