Table 2 Descriptive statistics of stress coping strategies of breast cancer patients in Tikur Anbesa specialized hospital, Ethiopia, 2020 (n = 264)

Confrontive

I did something which I didn’t think would work, but at least I was doing something

53.0

I let my feelings out somehow

30.7

Stood my ground and fought for what I wanted

62.1

I accepted the next best thing to what I wanted

34.8

I took a big chance or did something very risky to solve the problem

64.0

I tried to get the person responsible to change his/her mind

36.4

Distancing

Turned to work or substitute activity to take my mind off things

21.6

I went along with fate; sometimes I just have bad luck

73.1

I went on as if nothing had happened

18.9

Looked for the silver lining, so to speak; tried to look on the bright side of things

29.5

Didn’t let it get to me; refused to think too much about it

64.4

Made light of the situation; refused to get too serious about it

41.3

Self-controlling

Tried not to burn my bridges, but leave things open somewhat

57.6

I tried to keep my feelings to myself

72.7

I tried not to act too hastily or follow my first hunch.

58.0

I tried to keep my feelings from interfering with other things too much

62.5

I went over in my mind what I would say or do

36.4

I kept others from knowing how bad things were

34.1

Seeking social support

Talked to someone to find out more about the situation

32.6

Accepted sympathy and understanding from someone

23.5

I got professional help

97.7

Talked to someone who could do something concrete about the problem

81.4

I asked a relative or friend I respected for advice

38.3

Talked to someone about how I was feeling

36

Accepting responsibility

Criticized or lectured myself

32.6

I told myself things that helped me to feel better

76.5

I made a promise to myself that things would be different next time

28.8

I apologized or did something to make up

25.8

Positive reappraisal

Changed or grew as a person in a good way

66.3

I came out of the experience better than when I went in.

50.8

Found new faith

61.7

Rediscovered what is important in life

61.7

I prayed

99.2

I was inspired to do something creative about the problem

19.3

I changed something about myself

58.7

Escape avoidance coping activities

Hoped a miracle would happen

71.6

Slept more than usual.

27.3

Got away from it for a while; tried to rest or take a vacation

76.1

Tried to make myself feel better by eating, drinking, smoking, using drugs or medication

78.8

Avoided being with people in general

23.9

Refused to believe that it had happened.

27.3

Accepted it, since nothing could be done

79.2

Wished that the situation would go away or somehow be over with

27.7

Plan full problem solving

Just concentrated on what I had to do next—the next step

26.9

I tried to analyze the problem in order to understand it better

67.4

I felt that time would make a difference—the only thing to do was to wait

38.3

Bargained or compromised to get something positive from the situation

59.8

Changed something so things would turn out all right

67.0

I knew what had to be done, so I doubled my efforts to make things work

24.6

Came up with a couple of different solutions to the problem

20.8

I prepared myself for the worst

19.3

I jogged or exercised

29.9