Comparative examination of altruism, positive cognitive triad and depression rates in volunteers and professionals working with cancer patients

The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between volunteering, altruism, positive cognitive triad and depression rates. At this point, it was aimed to compare the rates of altruism, depression and positive cognitive triad between two groups working voluntarily and professionally with cancer patients. The sample of this research selected with convenience sampling method consisted of two groups and 121 participants. The participants of the first group (61 females) were selected from the group named ‘Mavi Melekler' who serve at Okmeydani Research and Training Hospital's Institute of Oncology voluntarily. The participants of the second group (60 females) were selected from hospital staff like doctor, nurse, technician, laborant who work at Istanbul University Istanbul Medical Faculty's Institute of Oncology. In the current study, Socio-demographic Information Form, Altruism Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and Cognitive Triad Inventory were applied. According to the findings, volunteers working with cancer patients had higher rates of altruism and positive cognitive triad, and lower rates of depression compared to professionals. As a result of the Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis, as altruism rates increased in both groups, depression levels decreased, and positive cognitive triad rates increased. The fact that volunteering is associated with the decrease in depression rates and the increase in the rates of positive cognitive triad may provide clinical benefit by producing a behavioral method for coping with depression which is one of the most common disorders and by providing a protective factor for psychological health.