title: Psychological adjustment in breast cancer: processes of emotional distress.
abstract: The process of psychological adjustment to breast cancer was examined at diagnosis and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups in a sample of 80 women with Stage I-Stage IV breast cancer. At diagnosis, symptoms of anxiety/depression were predicted by low dispositional optimism, and this path was partially mediated by use of emotion-focused disengagement coping. Younger age also was predictive of anxiety/depression symptoms at time of diagnosis, and this relationship was fully mediated by magnitude of intrusive thoughts. At 3 months, changes in anxiety/depression symptoms were predicted only by intrusive thoughts. At 6 months, low dispositional optimism reemerged as a significant predictor of changes in anxiety/depression and again was partially mediated by the use of emotion-focused disengagement coping. Independent effects for problem-focused engagement and disengagement and emotion-focused engagement coping were also found at 6 months. Implications of these data for psychosocial interventions with breast cancer patients are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington 05405, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Epping-Jordan
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Compas
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Osowiecki
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oppedisano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerhardt
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Primo
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Krag
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000145:classification*; D000367:Age Factors; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index