The Relationship Between Action Flexibility, Self-Efficacy, and Distress Tolerance in Patients with Skin Cancer
Keywords:
Action Flexibility, Self, Efficacy, Distress Tolerance, Skin Cancer, Psychological Adjustment, Cancer PatientsAbstract
Purpose: This study aimed to determine the relationship between action flexibility and self-efficacy and distress tolerance among patients diagnosed with skin cancer.
Methods and Materials: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted among patients with skin cancer who attended the tumor clinic of Razi Skin Hospital in Tehran, Iran. The study population consisted of male and female patients diagnosed with skin cancer, from whom 387 participants were selected through random sampling based on the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (2003) to assess action flexibility, the General Self-Efficacy Scale developed by Sherer et al. (1982), and the Distress Tolerance Scale developed by Simons and Gaher (2005). Descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations, were used to summarize the data. Inferential analyses were conducted using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis through SPSS version 25.
Findings: The results of Pearson’s correlation analysis demonstrated significant positive relationships between action flexibility and both self-efficacy and distress tolerance among patients with skin cancer. Individuals with higher levels of action flexibility reported greater confidence in their ability to manage challenges and showed a stronger capacity to tolerate emotional distress associated with their illness. Furthermore, regression analysis indicated that action flexibility significantly predicted self-efficacy, accounting for 48% of its variance (R² = 0.48). Action flexibility also significantly predicted distress tolerance, explaining 33% of its variance (R² = 0.33). These findings suggest that action flexibility is an important psychological factor associated with adaptive functioning in patients coping with skin cancer.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the important role of action flexibility in enhancing psychological adaptation among individuals with skin cancer. Action flexibility appears to contribute not only to patients’ ability to withstand emotional distress but also to their belief in their capacity to effectively manage disease-related challenges.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Fatemeh Mohammadizadeh (Author); Zahra Ghanbarpour
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