Traumatic stress, perceived global stress, and life events: prospectively predicting quality of life in breast cancer patients.
The authors investigated the relationship between stress at initial cancer diagnosis and treatment and subsequent quality of life (QoL). Women (n = 112) randomized to the assessment-only arm of a clinical trial were initially assessed after breast cancer diagnosis and surgery and then reassessed at 4 months (during adjuvant treatment) and 12 months (postadjuvant treatment). There were 3 types of stress measured: number of stressful life events (K. A. Matthews et al., 1997), cancer-related traumatic stress symptoms (M. J. Horowitz, N. Wilner, & W. Alvarez, 1979), and perceived global stress (S. Cohen, T. Kamarck, & R. Mermelstein, 1983). Using hierarchical multiple regressions, the authors found that stress predicted both psychological and physical QoL (J. E. Ware, K. K. Snow, & M. Kosinski, 2000) at the follow-ups (all ps < .03). These findings substantiate the relationship between initial stress and later QoL and underscore the need for timely psychological intervention.
Golden-Kreutz
Deanna M
DM
Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Thornton
Lisa M
LM
Wells-Di Gregorio
Sharla
S
Frierson
Georita M
GM
Jim
Heather S
HS
Carpenter
Kristen M
KM
Shelby
Rebecca A
RA
Andersen
Barbara L
BL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States