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Psychological defenses of young osteosarcoma survivors
Author(s) -
Sammallahti Pirkko,
LehtoSalo Pirkko,
Mäenpää Hanna,
Elomaa Inkeri,
Aalberg Veikko
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.2960040405
Subject(s) - psychology , interpersonal communication , id, ego and super ego , interpersonal relationship , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , social psychology
Two self‐report measures—one assessing psychiatric symptoms (SCL‐90) and the other ego defenses (DSQ)—were completed by 16 young survivors of osteosarcoma and 72 healthy controls. The survivors were found to be well adjusted, with no evidence of the self‐report being biased by defensiveness. There was one difference in the way the two study groups described themselves, however. Though far from conclusive, the finding seems to suggest that survivors have problems in trusting that they can obtain support and understanding from other people when they need it most. Possibly one of the most vulnerable areas where the negative impact of major illness may become evident is the capacity to feel secure in interpersonal relationships.