The Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas on Coping Styles and Fear of Recurrence in Women With Breast Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction:Maladaptive schemas influence the mental and physical health of patients. This study aimed to examine the role of early maladaptive schemas on coping styles and fear of recurrence in women with breast cancer (BC). Methods: This study was conducted; using a descriptive-correlational design. The research population included all female patients with BC who were referred to the radiotherapy ward of Five Hospitals in the center of Tehran from June to December 2020. The participants were 118 BC patients who were selected; using a simple random sampling technique. The inclusion criteria were undergoing radiotherapy, having BC surgery at least one month ago, and having at least a middle school education to answer questions independently. The exclusion criteria were being a widow and/or suffering from other specific physical and mental health problems in addition to cancer. The participants completed the Schema Questionnaire -Short Form (SQ-SF) (Young, 1998), the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS; Endler & Parker, 1990), and Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI). The collected data were analyzed; using the Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Data analysis demonstrated that emotional inhibition, entitlement/grandiosity, enmeshment/undeveloped self, unrelenting standards/hyper criticalness, and insufficient self-control/self-discipline were positively correlated with fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). The strongest correlations with fear of recurrence were related to the emotional inhibition (r=0.35), unrelenting standards/hyper criticalness, and entitlement/grandiosity (r=0.28) (P<0.001). Emotional and avoidance coping styles were also associated with the fear of recurrence (r=0.50 and r=0.20). Furthermore, the independent variables could explain 41% of the variances in FCR (P<0,001). Conclusions: Understanding the role of dysfunctional cognitive schemas on coping mechanisms and FCR can help clinicians and mental health professionals to form treatment interventions for BC patients.

The mediating role of early maladaptive schemas on the relationship between illness perception and pain coping strategies among adolescents diagnosed with migraine

“…Recently, many studies have explored the role of early maladaptive schemas on migraine, tension headaches, breast cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, etc. ( 19 – 21 ). According to the STM, basic emotional needs that are not appropriately satisfied during early life and repetitive adverse experience during childhood and adolescence form early maladaptive schema domains (EMSDs) in time.…”

Early Maladaptive Schemas as a Risk Factor for Breast Cancer in Algerian Women

“…In the field of studies that dealt with the topic of the current research, the study [9] that was conducted in the Sata Marta region in Colombia, its results concluded that the most prominent scheme is the self-control scheme. As for the study [3], which was conducted on the role of early, maladaptive schemas in each of the coping methods and fear of relapse in women with breast cancer, where the results of the statistical analysis showed that both the schema of excessive impulse control and the schema of deficiency Incompleteness, the merging relationship, high demands, and incompetence were associated with fear of relapse, and the study confirmed the importance and role of early, maladaptive plans in coping with breast cancer. Another study [7] aimed to identify early maladaptive schemas in women with breast cancer.…”

“…However, although a direct relationship between early, maladaptive schemas and breast cancer has not been proven, there are studies that have shown that there is a between early, maladaptive schemas and other variables that predict the trajectory of the disease, such as [3], which found a relationship between maladaptive early schemas and fear of cancer relapse and quality of life according to [6] and [7] mixed symptoms of anxiety and depression according to [13].…”

“…In addition, the progress in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer as well as augmentation in the survival rate has increased with it the interest in the psychological aspects and their impact on the course of the disease [3] Psychological factors can be factors that promote or prevent cancer [2]. As indicated in [4], among the psychological factors that may be related to cancer, early childhood experiences, adolescence, trauma, and separation, play a role in the incidence of cancer.…”

“…The energetic early schemas in cancer patients may be associated with other variables that may predict a negative outcome for sickliness. These variables include the fear of cancer recrudescence [3], quality of life [6]- [7], depression and anxiety symptoms [8].…”