A structural model of the relationships between perceived control and adaptation to illness in women with breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether perceived control produces better adaptation to illness in breast cancer patients in stages I or II.


METHODS
Longitudinal, 1-year following study.


METHODS
One hundred and one women were assessed on five occasions: one week after surgery, and again 1, 3, 6 and 12 months later, using, among other measures, the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).


RESULTS
Structural equation models confirmed that patients with higher perceived control showed better adaptation to illness in all five assessments.


CONCLUSIONS
These data fit well with previous research and suggest that psychological interventions which emphasize a sense of personal control would be effective in enhancing well-being in breast cancer patients at the early stages.
Bárez
M
M
Grup d'Investigació en Estrès i Salut, Unidad de Psicología Básica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
Blasco
T
T
Fernández-Castro
J
J
Viladrich
C
C
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires