title: Self-efficacy, perceived preparedness, and psychological distress in women completing primary treatment for breast cancer.
abstract: The present analyses were conducted to examine demographic and clinical variables associated with mood and health-related distress in a sample of 440 women completing primary treatment for early-stage breast cancer. The authors' aim was to test the hypothesis that higher levels of self-efficacy and perceived preparedness for the end of treatment--the reentry phase--are associated with better mood and lower health-related distress in this sample. Women who had received chemotherapy and who were younger (<50 years) had significantly higher mood disturbance and health-related distress scores. Younger age, preparedness, and self-efficacy predicted 36% of the variance in mood disturbance scores. Self-efficacy and age predicted 26% of the variance in health-related distress. Although further research is needed, our findings suggest that self-efficacy and perceived preparedness represent important constructs to target in the development of interventions for women at the reentry transition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. jennifer.jones@uhn.on.ca
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jackman
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodin
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Catton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult