Int J Stomatol ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (4): 545-553.doi: 10.7518/gjkq.2026225

• Original Article • Previous Articles    

Mediating effect of coping strategies on post-traumatic growth and fear of cancer recurrence in individuals with oral cancer

Xin Zhang1(),Meng Yuan1,Yufeng Yue1,Xiaoyan Duan2()   

  1. 1.College of Nursing, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
    2.Stomatological Hospital of Chong-qing Medical University, Chongqing 401147, China
  • Received:2024-12-04 Revised:2025-11-25 Online:2026-07-01 Published:2026-06-25
  • Contact: Xiaoyan Duan E-mail:2511494331@qq.com;452686765@qq.com

Abstract:

Objective This study aimed to investigate the current status of post-traumatic growth among patients with oral cancer and examine the influence of fear of cancer recurrence and coping mechanisms on post-traumatic development, providing a basis for improving post-traumatic growth in individuals with oral cancer. Methods From September 2023 to April 2024, convenience sampling was used to select 255 patients with oral cancer from three hospitals in Chongqing for the study. This questionnaire survey was conducted utilizing the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory, the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form, and the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire. Results The overall scores for post-traumatic growth, fear of cancer recurrence, positive coping strategies, and negative coping strategies were 56.88±18.69, 32.55±9.77, 19.86±9.82, and 8.72±6.76, respectively. Post-traumatic growth was significantly negatively correlated with fear of cancer recurrence and negative coping strategies (r=-0.646, -0.219, P<0.05) but significantly positively correlated with positive coping strategies (r=0.482, P<0.05). The relationship between post-traumatic growth and fear of cancer recurrence was partially mediated by coping strategies, and the mediating effect was 0.132, which accounted for 16.79% of the total effect. Conclusion Post-traumatic growth level among patients with oral cancer needs further improvement to reduce the fear of cancer recurrence. Encouraging patients to adopt positive coping strategies can enhance the degree of post-traumatic growth.

Key words: oral cancer, post-traumatic growth, fear of cancer recurrence, coping strategies, nursing

CLC Number: 

  • R473.78

TrendMD: 

Tab 1

Demographic characteristics of patients with oral cancer and univariate analysis of post-traumatic growth in these patients"

项目分类例数/n(%)PTGI得分t/FP
性别142(55.69)56.68±18.92-0.1870.852
113(44.31)57.12±18.47
年龄/岁<409(3.5)53.33±23.230.8810.451
40~5996(37.6)55.20±18.17
60~79144(56.5)58.45±18.64
≥806(2.4)51.33±22.05
婚姻状况已婚191(74.90)58.32±18.451.7240.163
未婚18(7.06)50.89±18.43
离异21(8.24)52.38±20.28
丧偶25(9.80)53.48±18.54
工作状态无业或退休188(73.73)58.20±18.571.9000.060
在职67(26.27)53.14±18.66
居住地城镇170(66.67)58.79±18.132.3350.020*
农村85(33.33)53.05±19.30
受教育程度小学及以下68(26.67)58.84±19.303.2020.024*
初中75(29.41)54.43±19.24
高中/职高/中专79(30.98)58.60±18.97
大专及以上33(12.94)64.58±12.52
家庭月收入/元≤2 00045(17.65)50.93±18.662.8630.037*
2 001~5 00079(30.98)57.83±19.38
5 001~10 00088(34.51)56.42±18.99
>10 00043(16.86)62.28±15.29
宗教信仰241(94.51)57.00±18.800.4450.657
14(5.49)54.71±17.08
疾病分期Ⅰ期67(26.27)63.04±15.213.9670.009*
Ⅱ期87(34.12)55.86±19.54
Ⅲ期57(22.35)55.26±19.62
Ⅳ期44(17.25)51.59±18.70
复发情况208(81.57)58.25±18.012.3020.025*
47(18.43)50.79±20.52
治疗方式手术156(61.18)59.84±17.989.315<0.001*
手术+放疗22(8.63)59.27±18.42
手术+化疗28(10.98)58.64±18.69
手术+放疗+化疗39(15.29)41.43±14.43
化疗10(3.92)61.90±17.00
病程/月≤1104(40.78)57.89±18.821.0590.367
>1,≤669(27.06)57.09±18.66
>6,≤1250(19.61)52.88±18.87
>1232(12.55)59.38±17.95

Tab 2

Post-traumatic growth, fear of cancer recurrence and coping strategies in patients with oral cancer"

项目条目数得分均值
创伤后成长2056.88±18.69
癌症复发恐惧1232.55±9.77
积极应对方式1219.86±9.82
消极应对方式88.72±6.76

Tab 3

Correlation analysis of post-traumatic growth, fear of cancer recurrence and coping strategies in patients with oral cancer"

变量创伤后成长癌症复发恐惧积极应对方式消极应对方式
创伤后成长1
癌症复发恐惧-0.646*1
积极应对方式0.482*-0.455*1
消极应对方式-0.219*0.199*0.1041

Tab 4

Multiple linear regression analysis of post-traumatic growth in patients with oral cancer"

自变量非标准化系数

标准化系数

Beta

tPVIF
B值标准误
常数84.5987.60211.129<0.001
手术+放化疗治疗方式-9.3012.671-0.179-3.4820.0011.320
癌症复发恐惧得分-0.8960.103-0.467-8.725<0.0011.424
积极应对方式得分0.4340.1040.2284.178<0.0011.477
消极应对方式得分-0.3310.132-0.119-2.4980.0131.135

Tab 5

Results of path analysis of post-traumatic growth in patients with oral cancer"

路径标准路径系数非标准路径系数标准误临界比值P
FCR→PTG-0.654-0.9030.121-7.457<0.001
积极应对→PTG0.2040.220.0713.1050.002
消极应对→PTG-0.142-0.1690.062-2.7260.006

Tab 6

Bootstrap mediation effect test"

参数估计值标准误95%CIP效应占比/%
总效应-0.7860.050-0.879~-0.6830.000
直接效应
FCR→PTG-0.6540.088-0.828~-0.4770.00183.20
中介效应
FCR→积极应对→PTG-0.1060.045-0.201~-0.0230.01713.49
FCR→消极应对→PTG-0.0260.014-0.065~-0.0050.0143.31
总中介效应-0.1320.050-0.233~-0.0400.00816.80

Fig 1

Structural equation modelling of the factors influencing post-traumatic growth in patients with oral cancer"

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