Coping strategies mediate the relationship between fear of cancer recurrence and quality of life in postoperative patients with prostate cancer: a multicentre survey

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships between fear of cancer recurrence and quality of life in patients with prostate cancer. A model based on Lazarus’ and Folkman’s stress and coping theory tested the specific hypothesis: fear of cancer recurrence has a direct and indirect effect on quality of life mediated by coping strategies. Methods The study used a cross-sectional and correlational design. Patients (n = 305) with postoperative prostate cancer completed three questionnaires and provided background data in 2023, and a mediator model was tested using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Results The test of the conceptual model confirmed the hypothesis. There was a significant direct and indirect effect of fear of cancer recurrence on quality of life through the mediators. Conclusions The coping strategies of face and yield are the most important mediating factors between fear of cancer recurrence and QoL in patients with chronic illness, which supports Lazarus’ and Folkman’s stress and coping theory.