Self-efficacy for coping with cancer among cancer survivors with preexisting mental health conditions versus a control group

Background and objectives: Self-efficacy for coping with cancer is a significant factor for cancer survivors’ quality of life, but it has not been examined among individuals with preexisting severe mental health conditions (SMHC). This study compared perceptions of self-efficacy for coping with cancer among cancer survivors with and without precancer SMHC; quality of communication with the oncology team and depressive symptoms as antecedents of self-efficacy; and the mediating role of self-regulation (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) between antecedents and perceived self-efficacy for coping with cancer. Methods: Participants were 170 adult cancer survivors with preexisting SMHC and 80 with no SMHC, aged 20–71, and 1–5 years since diagnosis. They filled out questionnaires in a face-to-face meeting. Multigroup path analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling. Results: Individuals with SMHC reported lower self-efficacy for coping with cancer and higher levels of depressive symptoms. In the SMHC group, cognitive reappraisal mediated the association between perceived communication quality and self-efficacy, and expressive suppression mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and self-efficacy. Conclusions: The results highlight the deficiency in self-efficacy for coping with cancer in individuals with SMHC, a prominent factor for treatment adherence and quality of life among cancer survivors. Findings suggest self-efficacy may be strengthened via more emphatic and attentive communication with the oncology team and fostering effective emotion regulation strategies.