Abstract
The distinction between affect and cognition has been put forward to clarify the lack of differences found in studies describing quality of life under deteriorated circumstances, such as serious iliness. In the study reported here, cancer patients under treatment (n=201) were compared with a random sampie from the normal population (n=200). As hypothesized, the affective component of life quality turned out to be more severely impaired than the cognitive component. Besides, it was investigated which factors contribute to the affective and the cognitive component of the quality of life of cancer patients under treatment. In cancer patients affect proved more strongly related to the physical domain. Cognition on the other hand was more strongly related to coping resources, especially personality characteristics like the level of self-esteem. It is concluded that an affective measure of quality of life is more sensitive to change in patients. The stability of life quality is attributed to the rather strong relation the affective and the cognitive component both have to coping resources.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brickman P, Coates D, Janoff-Bulman R. Lottery winners and accident victims: is happiness relative? J Personal Soc Psychol 1978; 36: 917–927.
Michalos AC. Satisfaction and happiness. Soc Indic Res 1980; 8: 385–422.
Campbell A, Converse PE, Rodgers WL. The Quality of American Life. New York: Sage, 1976.
Veenhoven R. Conditions of Happiness. Dordrecht: Reidel, 1984.
McKennell AC. Cognition and affect in perceptions of well-being. Soc Indic Res 1978; 5: 389–426.
Andrews FM, McKennell AC. Measures of self reported well-being: their affective, cognitive and other components. Soc Indic Res 1980; 8: 127–155.
McKennell AC, Andrews FM. Models of cognition and affect in perceptions of well-being. Soc Indic Res 1980; 8: 257–298.
Headey B, Holmström E, Wearing A. The impact of life events and changes in domain satisfactions on well-being. Soc Indic Res 1984; 15: 203–227.
Haes JCJMde, Pennink BJW, Welvaart K. The distinction between affect and cognition. Soc Indic Res 1987; 19: 367–378.
Weisman AD, Worden JW. The existential plight in cancer: significance of the first 100 days. Int J Psychiatr Med 1976–1977; 7: 1–15.
Yalom ID. Existential Psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books, 1980.
McCorkle R, Quint-Benoliel J. Symptom distress, current concerns and mood disturbance after diagnosis of life threatening disease. Soc Sci Med 1983; 17: 431–438.
Beckmann J, Ditlev. Conceptual views on quality of life: an impossible task or a necessary challenge? Scand J Gastroenterol 1987; 22: 83–86.
Caplan G. Principles of Preventive Psychiatry. New York/London: Basic Books, 1964.
Stewart AL. Measuring the ability to cope with serious illness. Santa Monica: Rand (N-1907-RC), 1980.
Michalos AC. Multiple discrepancies theory (MDT). Soc Indic Res 1985; 16: 347–413.
Szalaï A. The meaning of comparative research on the quality of life. In: Szalaï A, Andrews FM, eds. The Quality of Life, Comparative Studies. London: Sage, 1980: 7–21.
Hörnquist JO. The concept of quality of life. Scand J Soc Med 1982; 10: 57–61.
Haes JCJMde, vanKnippenberg FCE, Neijt JP. Measuring psychological and physical distress in cancer patients: structure and application of the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist. Br J Cancer 1990; 62: 1034–1038.
Haes JCJMde, Welvaart K. Quality of life after breast cancer surgery. J Surg Oncol 1985; 28: 123–125.
Bradburn NM. The Structure of Psychological Wellbeing Chicago: Aldine 1969.
Tempelaar R, deHaes JCJM, deRuiter JH, et al. The social experiences of cancer patients under treatment. Soc Sci Med 1989; 29: 635–642.
Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. Wonen en validiteit (Hoofdstuk 5 Lichamelijke validiteit). s-Gravenhage: Staatsuitgeverij, 1983.
Luteijn F, Starren J, Dijk Hvan. Handleiding bij de NPV. Lisse: Swets en Zeitlinger, 1975.
Rosenberg M. Society and the Adolescent Self Image. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1965.
Sidle A, Moos R, Adams J, Cady P. Development of a coping scale — a preliminary study. Arch Gen Psychiatr 1969; 20: 226–232.
SPSS Inc. SPSS-X User's Guide. New York: McGraw-Hill Company, 1983.
Zajonc RB. Feeling and thinking. Preferences need no inferences. Am Psychol 1980; 35: 151–175.
Zajonc RB. On the primacy of affect. Am Psychol 1984; 39: 117–123.
Lazarus RS. A cognitivist's reply to Zajonc on Emotion and Cognition. Am Psychol 1981; 36: 222–223.
Lazarus RS. Thoughts on the relation between emotion and cognition. Am Psychol 1982; 37: 1019–1024.
Lazarus RS. On the primacy of cognition. Am Psychol 1984; 39: 124–129.
Costa PT, McCrae RR, Zonderman AB. Environmental and dispositional influences on well-being: Longitudinal follow-up of an American national sample. Br J Psychol 1987; 78: 299–306.
Haes JCJMde, vanKnippenberg FCE. The quality of life of cancer patients, a review of the literature. Soc Sci Med 1985; 20: 809–817.
Costa PT, McCrae RR. Influence of extraversion and neuroticism on subjective well-being: Happy and unhappy people. J Personal Soc Psychol 1980; 38: 668–678.
Ormel J. Neuroticism and well-being inventories: Measuring traits or states? Psychol Med 1983; 13: 165–176.
Diener E, Sandvik E, Pavot W, Gallagher D. Response artifacts in the measurement of subjective well-being. Soc Indic Res 1991; 24: 35–56.
Coates A, Abraham S, Kay SB, et al. On the receiving end-patient perception of the side effects of cancer chemotherapy. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol 1983; 19: 203–208.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
de Haes, J.C.J.M., de Ruiter, J.H., Tempelaar, R. et al. The distinction between affect and cognition in the quality of life of cancer patients—sensitivity and stability. Qual Life Res 1, 315–322 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00434945
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00434945