Although the expectations for survival were based on

considerable information about the treatment given, this

aspect of treatment, that is, how much was given, was not

evaluated. The amount of treatment received by patients is

important both in terms of how this reflects the aggressive-

ness of their disease and what extent of disability there

may be from treatment side-effects.

 The findings of this particular correlation analysis

are especially interesting in light of the relationships

between the same psychosocial variables and longer or

shorter than expected survival. Table 35 summarizes the

findings for the variables with the strongest associations

with the duration of illness.

Table 35

Psychosocial Variables and the Duration of Illness:
Comparison of Correlation Coefficients


 Duration of a Longer b Shorter
Variable illness survival survival

Denial -.39* -- -.07
Repudiation -.35 .15
Time perspective .20 -- .06
Hopelessness .17 -- -.18
Depression .16 -- -.16
Frustration .16 .10


a n = 30. b n = 28. c n = 28.
* p <.05.