title: Psychosocial responses to treatment for breast cancer among lesbian and heterosexual women.
abstract: This study compared the experiences of 39 self-identified lesbians and 39 heterosexual women who had recently been treated for breast cancer. They were matched by age, stage of disease, time since diagnosis, and ethnicity. Data were collected by a questionnaire completed at home and returned by mail. Variables assessed included emotional adjustment, thought intrusion and avoidance, perceived quality of life, concerns about breast cancer, benefit finding, relationship and sexual disruption, psychosexual adjustment, social support, and coping. Compared to the heterosexual women, lesbians reported less thought avoidance, lower levels of sexual concern, less concern about their appearance, and less disruption in sexual activity, but also substantially lower perceptions of benefit from having had cancer. Lesbians reported less social connection to family, but no group difference emerged in connection to friends. Lesbians reported less denial coping, and more use of support from friends, more venting, and more positive reframing. Better understanding of the similarities and differences between groups will help address the relevant clinical issues appropriately, in order to optimize psychosocial adjustment to breast cancer. .
authors.affiliation: University of Miami, USA. Patricia.Arena@cherokeehealth.com
authors.forename: Patricia L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Carver
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Antoni
authors.forename: Sharlene
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ironson
authors.forename: Ron E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Durán
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health