title: Understanding pre- and post-hysterectomy levels of negative affect: a stress moderation model approach.
abstract: Before and after hysterectomy, 60 women completed self-report questionnaires. Measures of personality (NEO-Five Factor Inventory, NEO-FFI), coping (Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, CISS), and procedure appraisal were completed pre-operatively. Measures of depression and anxiety were completed pre- and post-operatively. Pre-op, 34% of women reported depression at clinical levels, and 29% reported clinical anxiety. The prevalence of depression fell to 8% 3-months post-op although clinical levels of anxiety persisted post-op in 22% of women. Regression analyses revealed that the principal risk factors for post-op negative affect were pre-op levels of depression and concerns about hysterectomy outcome. In assessing proposed models of post-hysterectomy outcome, structural equational modelling revealed the key position of neuroticism and extraversion, which were both directly and indirectly related to pre- and post-operative depression and anxiety. The mediating variables in this model included coping dispositions and procedure appraisal. It is concluded that the variables contained within stress moderation models provide a useful framework for understanding the processes that may lead to elevated levels of negative affect both before and after hysterectomy. Such an approach may prove beneficial for other surgical-outcome studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Donoghue
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pagano
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*