Objective-Research has documented modest cognitive difficulties among women treated for breast cancer. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of these subtle cognitive changes on quality of life after treatment.Methods-Data are presented from women breast cancer patients who completed neuropsychological tests and questionnaires regarding quality of life six and twelve months postchemotherapy (n's = 39 and 33). Neuropsychological test scores were examined for evidence of cognitive difficulties at each time point; repeated measures ANOVAs were used to identify changes over time. Regression analyses assessed relationships of quality of life outcomes with cognitive functioning, social support seeking, and fatigue.Results-Small percentages of participants (< 20% across tests) evidenced deficits in delayed memory, processing speed, response inhibition, and verbal fluency at each time point. Reliable change index analyses suggested statistically reliable improvements in each cognitive domain for a modest portion of participants. Regressions revealed hesitation to seek social support and fatigue as the most consistent predictors of quality of life at six and twelve months post-chemotherapy. Cognitive complaints and verbal fluency difficulties were also significantly related to quality of life at twelve months.Conclusions-In addition to confirming the importance of fatigue and social support in quality of life, these data offer preliminary indications that weaker verbal fluency skills and self-reported cognitive complaints may be associated with poorer functional outcomes among cancer survivors. Further research is needed to validate these potential relationships, which suggest that cognitive difficulties among cancer survivors may warrant monitoring and possible intervention.
Breast cancer survivors experience cognitive difficulties following chemotherapy, yet the effects of these deficits on functional outcomes have not been systematically evaluated. This study assessed the relationships between post-chemotherapy cognitive difficulties and functional outcomes. Forty-six women with breast cancer were seen at 1-month post-chemotherapy; data were collected on cognitive functioning, psychological variables, and physical symptoms. Wilcoxon Signed Rank analyses revealed cognitive deficits in executive functioning and verbal fluency. Subsequent regression analyses demonstrated that poorer executive functioning was associated with decreased productivity, community involvement, and social role functioning. Poorer quality of life was predicted by depression and reluctance to seek social support, but not cognitive functioning. These findings indicate that executive functioning deficits are associated with important functional outcomes among breast cancer survivors 1-month post-chemotherapy. Thus, treatment efforts should focus on addressing cognitive, as well as psychological and physical, issues among cancer survivors.
Immigrants are vital members of U.S. society and are essential contributors to the U.S. labor force. Today, immigrants comprise a significant portion of the U.S. population, however, career assessment research has largely ignored their work experiences, and career counselors are not trained on the intricacies on the delivery of career counseling and assessment services with this population. In this article, the authors provide an overview of current immigration patterns in the United States. In addition, the authors evaluate the current state of vocational psychology research with U.S. immigrants and provide suggestions for future vocational research and practice with immigrants and professional training for career counselors in this area.
This study examined racial identity, self‐esteem, and phenotype among biracial Polynesian/White adults. Eighty‐four Polynesian/White persons completed the Biracial Identity Attitude Scale, the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Inventory, and a Polynesian phenotype scale. Profile analyses showed participants identified more with their Polynesian parent. A mediation analysis revealed that phenotype did not mediate the relationship between biracial identity and self‐esteem.
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