Relación entre los rasgos de personalidad y las estrategias de afrontamiento en pacientes con cáncer en cuidados paliativos.

Abstract

Palliative care is a comprehensive approach aimed at improving the quality of life of individuals with serious illnesses, such as cancer, by addressing their physical, emotional, and social dimensions. Several studies have shown that personality traits and coping strategies significantly influence the psychological well-being of terminal oncology patients. This study aims to analyze the relationship between these two factors through a literature review. To do so, a search and analysis of scientific literature published between 2020 and 2025 was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. Articles that involved patients in palliative care contexts were selected, considering the Five-Factor Personality Model and the Brief COPE questionnaire, excluding those that did not explore this relationship. The results show that patients with higher levels of neuroticism tend to use maladaptive coping mechanisms, while those who exhibit traits of extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness to experience are more likely to employ more adaptive mechanisms, such as planning and acceptance. These findings reflect a direct association between personality profile and ways of coping with illness. Understanding this interaction allows for the identification of consistent patterns in the emotional coping of oncology patients, promoting the design of personalized and effective psychological interventions that strengthen comprehensive palliative care.