A Social Cognitive Perspective on Coping With Cancer: Theory, Research, and Intervention

With increases in the number of cancer survivors, many persons now experience cancer as a chronic disease followed by adaptation to a new reality of what is normal in their lives. In response, cancer survivorship researchers have begun attending to the multidimensional needs of survivors, including the need to promote optimal psychological adaptation and health. Theoretical models of well-being that account for the complexity of survivorship issues are needed. We present a social cognitive model of restorative wellbeing as a framework for reviewing recent research on coping with early stage adult cancer (i.e., stages I and II) and optimizing post-treatment adjustment. We focus on research on cancer-related coping strategies, efficacy beliefs, personality traits, and environmental supports, which have been linked to adjustment outcomes and which may inform psychosocial interventions. By grounding this research in a theoretical base, we highlight the potential for counseling psychologists’ contributions to cancer survivorship research.