Coping with Cancer: Spanish Adaptation and Validation of the Mini-MAC Scale in a Colombian Population

Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Mini-MAC in a Colombian cancer sample. Methods: one hundred and twenty-six cancer patients completed the adapted Mini-MAC, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Detection of Emotional Distress Scale (DED). Descriptive, correlational and internal consistency statistics were obtained. An Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and a Path Analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were performed. Results: A 4-factor solution was derived: Helplessness/Hopelessness (HH), Anxious Preoccupation (AP), Cognitive Avoidance (CA) and Fighting Spirit (FS). PCA values indicated a factor solution explaining 58.9% of the variance. Significant correlations were found between HH and AP, and HH and FS. CA significantly correlated with AP and FS. Significant correlations between Mini-MAC, HADS and DED were found. Cronbach's Alpha was superior to .6 in all cases. SEM analysis indicated that HH and AP have a positive effect on anxiety and a negative one on the emotional state, explaining 49% of the variance. CA had a negative effect on the emotional state. Altogether, HH, AP y CA explained 39% of the variance on emotional state. Conclusion: The Colombian version of the Mini-MAC is valid and reliable. It constitutes an adequate tool for assessment of coping in cancer.