Fear of cancer recurrence and psychological well-being in women with breast cancer: The role of causal cancer attributions and optimism

Abstract

This study aims to examine the association between cancer causal attributions, fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and psychological well-being and the possible moderating effect of optimism among women with a previous diagnosis of breast cancer. Participants (N = 314) completed an online self-report assessment of causal attributions for their own breast cancer, FCR, psychological well-being and optimism. Simultaneous multiple regression analyses were conducted to explore the overall contribution of causal attributions to FCR and psychological well-being separately. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were also utilised to examine the potential moderating influence of dispositional optimism on the relationship between causal attributions and FCR and psychological well-being. Causal attributions of environmental exposures, family history and stress were significantly associated with higher FCR. The attribution of stress was also significantly associated with lower psychological well-being. Optimism did not moderate the relationship between causal attributions and FCR or well-being. The observed relationships between causal attributions for breast cancer and FCR and psychological well-being suggest that the inclusion of causal attributions in screening for FCR is potentially important. Health professionals may need to provide greater psychological support to women who attribute their cancer to non-modifiable causes and consequently continue to experience distress.

Predictors and interdependence of family support in a random sample of long‐term young breast cancer survivors and their biological relatives

“…Since YBCS in the study were diagnosed on average 11 years prior, family members may assume that YBCS need less support over time. This may not necessarily be accurate, as some YBCS may have to cope with late effects of cancer treatment or pervasive fear of cancer recurrence . YBCS’ age had a positive partner effect on relatives’ family support, presumably because some longer‐term cancer survivors focus less on their own needs and more on the needs of their families …”

Factors influencing fear of cancer recurrence in patients with breast cancer: Evidence from a survey in Yancheng, China

“…Patients with FCR often have the following characteristics: Thoughts associated with death, feeling lonely, believing that cancer will recur, uncertain experiences, the emergence of uncontrollable thoughts and images associated with cancer, and the thoughts often occur every day and last longer than 30 min . The previous studies have confirmed that FCR is concurrent with a significantly lower quality of life (QOL), functional impairments, and increased use and cost of health care.…”

Recovery in early stage breast cancer—An Australian longitudinal study

“…Other research suggests younger cancer survivors reported higher levels of psychological distress, and this was often attributed to uncertainty for the future (Hall, Mishel, & Germino, ) and potentially poor psychological adaptation. Some authors suggest that optimism does not moderate the causal relationship between fear of cancer returning and psychological well‐being (Dumalaon‐Canaria, Prichard, Hutchinson, & Wilson, ), while other researchers suggest that optimism does lead to better mental and physical functioning including better well‐being (Colby & Shifren, ). Nevertheless, to foster psychological adaptation or resilience, positive interventions applied to patients and survivors of breast cancer promote positivity (Casellas‐Grau, Font, & Vives, ).…”