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Source: ONE News -
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It turns out who you blame plays a big role in how well you cope with cancer.
Endlessly blaming yourself contributes to poorer mental outcomes and stress, according to an Australian study which also found it was better to apportion blame to an external party.
"They might blame factors like God's will, or bad luck or chance," researcher Talia Hayman told AAP on Tuesday.
"Externalising the blame diffuses self-blame which can enhance well-being."
The study, presented at the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia's (COSA) Annual Scientific Meeting, took in the views of about 220 South Australia-based cancer patients.
Hayman said these were people who had "gone through the treatment and they are in that `it is going to come back?` phase".
Cancer survivors who had a character of self-blame were more likely to report a lower quality of life and higher levels of stress.
Those who blamed their own stress as the cause of their cancer were also more likely to suffer continuing stress, and also report symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Hayman said issues of blame often arose for people with cancer because it was the logical next step of the internal question of "why me?".
"They seek to find a reason for why they got cancer. They might blame themselves for not engaging in a good diet, not exercising enough, or their doctors ... or their spouse."
Those who said their cancer was "God's will", in particular, showed lower rates of PTSD.
The research also pointed to the optimal mental outlook for those battling cancer was to relinquish any sense of blame.
Those who reported that they felt they had forgiven any potential cause of their cancer were shown to have improved health across the board.
They had better physical, emotional and social wellbeing as well as fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD.
"Those people who could forgive are not so consumed by the cancer diagnosis and the negative consequences, so they are able to build their lives and move forward ... they see it as another chapter in the book," Ms Hayman said.
"(The key) seems to be to derive some positive meaning from it so you're not struck ruminating on it."
The research was conducted as part of Ms Hayman's Batchelor of Psychology thesis, undertaken at the University of Adelaide and with the support of the Cancer Council SA.
The COSA meeting is underway on the Gold Coast this week.
