Abstract
Coping with a severe chronic disease is embedded in the patient's everyday life and may af-fect many areas of everyday functioning. This single-case-study depicts coping processes in the natural environment of the patients. Using a standardised diary over a period of ninety days, stressors (concerning physical well-being, intimate social relations, daily activities, fi-nance, doctor-patient-relationship), coping strategies, and emotional well-being were as-sessed on a daily basis. We analysed thirteen cases of female patients with different tumours with regard to those stressors and coping strategies that have been found in previous studies on a group level. Moreover, three single cases were examined in more detail. Each person showed a specific profile of daily stressors and coping strategies. Not all of the previously known stressors and coping modes turned out to be relevant for these patients. There are dif-ferent consequences of the individual strategies on well-being and function, also depending on the stage of the illness. Future research should examine the day-to-day coping process in more detail.
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