Adjustment of young women with breast cancer after chemotherapy: A mediation model of emotional competence via emotional distress

Abstract

Objective Emotional competence (EC) is considered a substantial resource in the adjustment of cancer patients, especially via its effect on anxiety and depression symptoms. This research aimed at assessing the impact of intrapersonal EC in young women (≤45 years) with breast cancer (YWBC) on their specific quality of life (i.e. subjective experience related to daily difficulties and perceived repercussions of the disease and treatments) related to chemotherapy, via anxiety and depression symptoms. Methods Two hundred fifty YWBC from 24 French centers completed a self‐reported questionnaire after diagnosis (T1) and after the chemotherapy phase (T2), comprising the Young Women Breast Cancer Inventory, the Profile of EC and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The indirect effect of EC (T1) on subjective experience (T2) via anxiety and depression symptoms (T2) was tested using regressions and the Macro PROCESS. Results Emotional competence predicted fewer anxiety and depression symptoms at T1 and T2, and a better subjective experience at T2 via fewer anxiety and depression symptoms. Depression symptoms appeared to be a stronger mediator than anxiety symptoms on four dimensions (Support from close relatives, feeling of couple cohesion, body image and sexuality, management of children and everyday life), whereas anxiety symptoms appeared to be a stronger mediator on two dimensions (negative affectivity and apprehension about the future, deterioration of relationships). Conclusions These results support the importance of developing psycho‐affective interventions to reinforce the EC of YWBC during chemotherapy in order to facilitate the cognitive and emotional processes necessary for a better adjustment and subjective experience.

Emotional processes in partners’ quality of life at various stages of breast cancer pathway: a longitudinal study

“…Overall, results showed a significant direct impact of EC on all dimensions of QoL of partners, except for career management and financial difficulties. These results are in line with those observed on women with breast cancer [22]: EC appears as a more significant resource for partners' than for women's QoL, except for the career and financial domains that were little or not influenced by EC for both patients and partners. Career management and financial difficulties may be more related to variables other than emotional and psychological resources such as EC.…”

“…The emphasis should be on personalized training with an active and experiential approach, focused on specific EC with interactive groups [19,21]. Baudry et al proposed a model revealing the significant effect of EC on anxiety and depression symptoms in cancer adjustment, especially in terms of QoL and supportive care needs [8,9,22,23]. In daily life, EC helps reduce the psychological impact of disease diagnosis and treatments, thus, leading to better adjustment.…”

“…In daily life, EC helps reduce the psychological impact of disease diagnosis and treatments, thus, leading to better adjustment. As it reduces anxiety and depression symptoms, EC may help patients report a better QoL after surgery [9] or chemotherapy [22], as well as fewer unmet supportive care needs [8]. Interestingly, the effects of EC seem to be different according to the care pathway [22,24].…”

“…As it reduces anxiety and depression symptoms, EC may help patients report a better QoL after surgery [9] or chemotherapy [22], as well as fewer unmet supportive care needs [8]. Interestingly, the effects of EC seem to be different according to the care pathway [22,24]. Results showed that anxiety and depression evolve differently along the cancer care pathway and play a different role in the psychological processes that influence both QoL and supportive care needs [8,22,24].…”

“…Interestingly, the effects of EC seem to be different according to the care pathway [22,24]. Results showed that anxiety and depression evolve differently along the cancer care pathway and play a different role in the psychological processes that influence both QoL and supportive care needs [8,22,24]. Depression may be more present in the psychological processes influencing everyday life difficulties (i.e.…”