Abstruct Postoperative symptoms have a major impact on quality of life of postgastrectomy patients. This study examined the effect of potential risk factors other than medical perspectives (type of surgery or reconstruction technique) on postoperative symptom experience. Subjects were 82 Japanese postgastrectomy patients (M age = 63.63 years, SD = 10.21; males = 50, females = 32). In order to control the surgical effect on symptom experience, subjects were limited only who had underwent distal

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... ubtotal gastrectomy, and who had been discharged within 3 years with no indication of recurrence. Main study variables were attribute, health status (disease stage, adjuvant therapy, time since surgery, postoperative symptoms and their frequency), eating habits, depression, and emotional support. The result showed depression (β=0.24, p<0.05) was only a significant predictor of postoperative symptoms. Besides, frequency of symptom was significantly (p<0.05) predicted by marital status( β =-0.32) and depression (β=0.21). Health status and eating habits did not contribute to incidence of postoperative symptom among the subjects. The results suggest that in order to control the postoperative symptoms, not only to encourage the patient to develop healthier eating habits, but also to enhance psychological status and provide appropriate social support may be needed.