Attribution of blame, self-forgiving attitude and psychological adjustment in women with breast cancer.
The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among self-blame for developing breast cancer, a self-forgiving attitude, mood, and quality of life among women with breast cancer. In this cross-sectional study, 123 women with Stages 0-III breast cancer completed questionnaires measuring demographic and medical characteristics, self-blame, self-forgiveness, mood, and quality of life. Women who blamed themselves reported more mood disturbance (p <or= .001) and poorer quality of life (p < .001) than those who did not blame themselves. Mediational analyses revealed that self-blame for cancer partially mediated the relationships between a self-forgiving attitude and both mood disturbance and quality of life (Z = -2.72, p = .006 and Z = -2.89, p = .004, respectively). Patients may benefit from a discussion with their oncologists and other healthcare providers about self-forgiveness and the potential benefits of reducing self-blame to facilitate adjustment to breast cancer.
Friedman
Lois C
LC
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. lois.friedman@uhhospitals.org
Romero
Catherine
C
Elledge
Richard
R
Chang
Jenny
J
Kalidas
Mamta
M
Dulay
Mario F
MF
Lynch
Garrett R
GR
Osborne
C Kent
CK
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires