The relationships among self efficacy, depression and coping with cancer were examined in 194 outpatients who had received a diagnosis of cancer. The sample for this descriptive correlational study consisted of people who were at least 19 years old and had been treated for cancer at 6 hospital in Seoul. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire. The results of this study are as follows: 1. People who attributed cancer to heredity/ family showed the highest mean score of self efficacy. People who attributed cancer to smoking showed the highest mean score of depression. and coping. 2. There were significant differences between causal attribution and depression and between causal attribution and coping. 3. There was a negative correlation between self-efficacy and depression(r=-.301, p= .000), whereas there was a positive correlation between self-efficacy and coping (r=.195, 0=.006). Finally, it is evident that identifying clear perceived causes, self-efficacy, depression and coping in patients with cancer continues to challenge researchers. Based upon this study, it is recommended that future research have a longitudinal design that allows for the identification of changes in perception, emotion and coping and, possibly, different relationships over time.
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