Attribution and Subjective Well-being: A Comparative Study of Women Cancer Survivors and their Caregivers

A diagnosis of cancer is one of the most traumatic events for a woman and her family. It is not only a physically debilitating but also an emotionally draining experience. Person diagnosed with cancer ask the initial question “Why Me”? This is known as attribution. Attribution helps in understanding, why individuals are motivated to assign causal beliefs to their illness. Causal attributions are pivotal in an individual's understanding of this world and influence the recovery and well-being of the person as well as his/her caregiver. The present study is an attempt to explore the significant differences in patients and their caregivers in the level of attribution and subjective wellbeing. A sample of 100 women cancer patients was purposively selected from the Lucknow city and the nearby districts. Locus of Control in Health Inventory (LOCHI), Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were administered. Results revealed no significant difference in internal attribution comprising of IP and IC and external attribution comprising of luck and God between patients and their caregivers. However, there was significant difference in external attribution comprising of fate and doctor between patients and their caregivers. There was no significant difference in subjective well-being comprising of LS, PA and NA between patients and caregivers.