Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of coping styles on depression and quality of life of cancer patients. Methods Hospitalized cancer patients were investigated with general condition questionnaire, Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ) and Quality of Life Questionnaire for Chinese Cancer Patients (QLQ). Results 234 cases were selected, and 54.27% of them accompanied with depression. The factors of confrontation (r=-0.378, P=0.006), avoidance (r=-0.374, P=0.008) and acceptance-resignation (r=0.684, P=0.000) of MCMQ were related with the depression, as well as the quality of life with confrontation (r=0.232, P=0.043), avoidance (r=0.317, P=0.000) and acceptance-resignation (r=-0.479, P=0.007). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that: Y (depression)=-0.631+0.161X3(acceptance-resignation), Y(quality of life)=3.317-0.085X3(acceptance-resignation)+0.257X2(avoidance). Conclusion Coping styles are related with the depression and quality of life of cancer patients.

Key words: cancer, coping styles, depression, quality of life