The Effects of Imagery Therapy on Coping Mechanism and Type C Personality in the Women with Mastectomy

심상치료가 유방 절제 여성의 성격특성과 대처전략에 미치는 효과

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of imagery therapy on "coping mechanism and type C personality of the women with mastectomy. To achieve this purpose, 2 hours sessions of imagery therapy were given to the patients with breast cancer twice a week for 6 weeks. The period of data collection was from July, 7th to August, 12th 2002. The participants were 30 patients, 15 experimental group, 15 control group who were treated at the G University hospital in J City. This study was designed using a quasi-experimental approach with non-equivalent Pre test-Post test Design. The themes for the Imagery Therapy Program were composed of Leuner's(1969) 12 Imagery Themes: flower, green-field, stream, mountain, house, woods, significant figures, rose, lion, ideal self-image, cave and volcano. The data were analyzed with ${\chi}2-test$ and MANOVA using the SPSS program. The course of image change of the 12 imagery themes was analyzed by content analysis. The results of this study are as follows: First Hypothesis, 'The score of type C personality in the women with mastectomy who received imagery therapy will be significantly lower than that of the control group' was supported(p<.05). Second Hypothesis, 'The score of coping mechanism' in the women with mastectomy who received imagery therapy will be significantly higher than that of the control group' was rejected. In conclusion, imagery therapy is suggested as an effective nursing intervention to change type C personality of the women with mastectomy, but not effective to improve coping mechanism. Therefore, the program for the women with mastectomy should be developed to change their coping mechanism, method of problem solving and Quality of life.