ILLNESS ATTITUDE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VALUE ORIENTATIONS OF ONCOLOGY PATIENTS

Abstract

The study of the internal picture of illness is a crucial component of medical and psychological support for oncology ward patients. While global and Ukrainian psychology have amassed substantial knowledge on psychological states and personality traits that influence the course of oncological diseases, the transformation of patients’ life values remains an underexplored issue. A survey was conducted among 105 patients diagnosed with various types and levels of localization of oncological diseases of differing durations. The study utilized the “TOBOL” method for psychological diagnostics of illness response types and M. Rokeach’s method for assessing personal value orientations. The findings revealed that 56.2% of patients demonstrated conditionally adaptive types of responses, with only 13.3% exhibiting a genuinely harmonious response type. The most prevalent response was ergopathic, characterized by the maintenance of active productive activities and professional status, which may serve as compensatory or defensive mechanisms. This response was observed in 26.0% of women and 21.9% of men. Among maladaptive response types, the most common were sensitive responses to illness and anxious involvement. Correlation analysis identified sets of value orientations associated with different illness response types. Specifically, the harmonious type was linked to the dominance of terminal values such as “active life” and “knowledge”. The ergopathic response was accompanied by similar orientations; however, the value of “interesting work” shifted to a secondary position, supporting its compensatory role. In the anosognosic response type, the value of “health” was deprioritized, while “life activity” and “self-development” gained prominence. Sensitive and anxious responses showed similar correlations with values, emphasizing a focus on health and concern about relationships with others. These findings significantly expand the understanding of the value aspects of the internal picture of illness in oncology patients.