“Resilience And Psychosocial Adjustment To Illness In Total Laryngectomized Patients: A Pilot Study”
Background & Aim
Total laryngectomy entails profound and persistent changes in communication, identity, and social functioning, placing individuals at increased risk for psychosocial maladjustment. Given the severe communication impairment following total laryngectomy, understanding psychosocial adaptation is essential for comprehensive otorhinolaryngological care. Resilience has been proposed as a key protective factor in chronic illness; however, its relationship with domain-specific psychosocial adjustment among total laryngectomized individuals remains insufficiently explored.
Material & Methods
This pilot, exploratory correlational study included 15 total laryngectomized outpatients (aged 56–71) who completed online self-report measures of psychosocial adjustment to illness (PAIS-SR) and resilience (Resilience Scale). Data were analyzed using non-parametric methods, including descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank-order correlation, and Mann–Whitney U tests.
Results
Participants demonstrated a moderate level of overall psychosocial adjustment to illness (M = 3.24) and a high level of resilience (M = 4.28). Resilience showed significant positive associations with several domains of psychosocial adjustment, including health care orientation, illness-related behavior, physician-provided information, and vocational and domestic functioning, as well as a negative association with extended family relationships. Participants with higher psychosocial adjustment exhibited significantly higher resilience levels (Mdn = 4.50, IQR = .15, mean rank = 11.38).
Conclusions
Findings provide clinically meaningful preliminary evidence that resilience supports psychosocial adjustment in total laryngectomized patients, with direct implications for rehabilitation practice. The small sample size and cross-sectional design limit generalizability and preclude causal inference. These findings highlight the need for longitudinal studies to clarify underlying mechanisms and optimize multidisciplinary psychosocial and rehabilitative care.
Keywords
laryngectomy, psychosocial adjustment to illness, resilience, quality of life, rehabilitation