Abstract: Objective：To investigate the level of psychological stress in patients after gastric cancer surgery and its relationship with
empowerment and coping styles, so as to provide evidence for improving psychological health and long-term prognosis. Methods: A
retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 138 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy at Anhui No. 2 Provincial
People's Hospital from March 2022 to February 2024. General information was collected, and the Chinese versions of the Patient Per⁃
ception of Empowerment Scale (PPES), Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ), and Psychosocial Stress Scale for Groups
(PSSG) were used to assess empowerment, coping styles, and psychological stress. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear re⁃
gression analysis were performed. Results: The mean PSSG score was (80.28±12.99), indicating that patients experienced psychologi⁃
cal stress to varying degrees. Psychological stress was positively correlated with age, monthly family income, medical payment method,
avoidance coping, and resignation coping, but negatively correlated with all dimensions of empowerment and confrontation coping (P<
0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that decision-making, self-management, and information dimensions of empowerment
were protective factors, whereas resignation coping was a risk factor for psychological stress (P<0.05). Conclusion: Patients after gas⁃
tric cancer surgery generally experience a relatively high level of psychological stress. Empowerment and coping styles are closely asso⁃
ciated with psychological stress. Enhancing patient empowerment, providing information support, and promoting positive coping strate⁃
gies may help reduce psychological stress, thereby improving patients' psychological health and rehabilitation outcomes.

Key words: gastric cancer, postoperative, psychological stress, health empowerment, coping style