Self-regulatory fatigue in hematologic malignancies: Impact on quality of life, coping, and adherence to medical recommendations

Lise Solberg Nes, Shawna L. Ehlers, Christi A. Patten, Dennis A. Gastineau

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an intensive cancer therapy entailing numerous physical, emotional, cognitive, and practical challenges. Patients' ability to adjust and cope with such challenges may depend on their ability to exert control over cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes, that is, ability to self-regulate. Self-regulatory capacity is a limited resource that can be depleted or fatigued (i.e., "self-regulatory fatigue"), particularly in the context of stressful life events such as cancer diagnosis and treatment. Purpose: This is one of the first studies to examine self-regulatory fatigue in a cancer population. The current study aimed to (1) extract items for a specific scale of self-regulatory capacity and (2) examine the impact of such capacity on adaptation in patients with hematologic malignancies preparing for HSCT. Methods: Factor analysis of four existing scales gauging psychological adjustment and well-being in 314 patients preparing for HSCT (63% male and 89% Caucasian) identified 23 items (α = 0.85) related to self-regulatory control or fatigue. This measure was then examined using existing clinical data obtained from 178 patients (57% male and 91% Caucasian) undergoing treatment for hematologic malignancies in relationship to quality of life, coping, and self-reported adherence to physicians' recommendations. Results: Controlling for pain severity, physical fatigue, and depression, self-regulatory fatigue scores were incrementally associated with decreased quality of life, use of avoidance coping strategies, and decreased adherence to physicians' recommendations. Conclusion: These results emphasize the potential role of self-regulatory capacity in coping with and adjusting to hematologic cancers and future research is warranted.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)13-21
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Behavioral Medicine
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2013

Keywords

  • Adjustment
  • Coping
  • Hematologic malignancies
  • Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
  • Quality of life
  • Self-regulatory fatigue

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Psychology

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