Unveiling the power of optimism, social support, and psychological resilience in kidney cancer patients
Abstract
The present study aimed to examine the relationships among optimism, social support, and psychological resilience in kidney cancer patients. A cross-sectional design was employed with 131 participants, who completed a questionnaire including demographic information, the Connor-Davidson Psychological Resilience Scale, the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, and the Optimism Scale. Results indicated that males reported higher levels of optimism and social support than females, although gender did not significantly influence psychological resilience. Younger patients exhibited higher social support, optimism, and resilience compared to older adults. Regarding disease stage, optimism was highest in Stage I, whereas perceived social support and psychological resilience peaked in Stage II, suggesting greater coping efforts and engagement with support during treatment. Correlation and regression analyses demonstrated that higher optimism and social support particularly from family and friends were significantly associated with enhanced psychological resilience, with optimism moderating the impact of social support on resilience. The strong interrelationships among the sub-dimensions of social support highlight the integrated role of social resources in promoting well-being. These findings underscore the importance of fostering optimism and social support through tailored psychosocial interventions, which may strengthen coping strategies and overall quality of life throughout the kidney cancer trajectory.
Copyright (c) 2026 Zekeriya Temircan, Kelly Schuller
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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