A prospective longitudinal study investigating neuroticism and mastery as predictors of quality of life among Chinese gynecologic cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to examine the role of neuroticism and mastery in predicting the quality of life (QOL) among Chinese gynecologic cancer survivors.


METHODS
A total of 184 women participated in this prospective longitudinal study. Participants were to rate their quality of life at baseline (T1) and one year later (T2). Neuroticism as a predictor of QOL was examined by controlling for baseline QOL, sociodemographic, and disease variables using hierarchical linear regression modeling. Mastery as a mediator between the relationship of neuroticism and QOL was also examined.


RESULTS
Bivariate correlations showed that the cancer site, time since diagnosis, neuroticism, and mastery at T1 were related to various aspects of QOL at T1 and T2. After controlling for cancer site, time since diagnosis, QOL at T1, high levels of neuroticism at T1 predicted poor physical and emotional QOL at T2, but mastery at T1 did not mediate the relationship between neuroticism at T1 and QOL at T2.


CONCLUSIONS
Neuroticism is a salient personality variable that predicts poor emotional and physical well-being over time. Gynecologic cancer survivors high on neuroticism should be the target for intervention to reduce negative effects during the course of recovery.
Lai
Beatrice P Y
BP
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. beatricelai@ust.hk
Tang
Catherine S K
CS
Chung
Tony K H
TK
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology
Cancer Nurs. 1990 Apr;13(2):108-15
2331691
J Health Soc Behav. 1978 Mar;19(1):2-21
649936
Gynecol Oncol. 2006 Mar;100(3):479-86
16185753
Gynecol Oncol. 2006 Sep;102(3):563-72
16716379
Psychol Bull. 2008 Jan;134(1):138-61
18193998
Support Care Cancer. 2000 Sep;8(5):414-22
10975692
Psychol Methods. 2002 Mar;7(1):83-104
11928892
Ment Retard. 1995 Feb;33(1):10-20
7707935
J Clin Oncol. 2008 Jun 1;26(16):2754-60
18509185
Cancer. 2005 Mar 1;103(5):1082-91
15651063
Eur J Cancer. 2003 Sep;39(13):1852-60
12932662
J Psychosom Res. 1988;32(3):263-72
3184015
Clin Psychol Rev. 2004 Jul;24(3):315-38
15245834
Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2003 Mar-Apr;13(2):111-9
12657109
Qual Life Res. 2002 Mar;11(2):101-13
12018734
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1986 Dec;51(6):1173-82
3806354
Psychol Bull. 1998 Sep;124(2):197-229
9747186
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1986 Mar;50(3):571-9
3701593
Cancer. 2000 Apr 1;88(7):1715-27
10738232
J Abnorm Psychol. 1994 Feb;103(1):103-16
8040472
Psychol Med. 1991 Feb;21(1):51-7
2047505
Am Psychol. 1985 Jan;40(1):19-28
3977166
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1992 Mar;62(3):480-8
1560338
Psychooncology. 2006 Sep;15(9):749-58
16304622
Ann Surg Oncol. 2007 Feb;14(2):678-85
17146739
Br J Psychiatry. 1990 Jul;157:6-12
2397364
Health Psychol. 1993 Jan;12(1):16-23
8462494
Psychol Bull. 1984 Nov;96(3):465-90
6393179
J Clin Oncol. 1993 Mar;11(3):570-9
8445433
J Pers. 1987 Jun;55(2):299-316
3612472
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1988 Jun;54(6):1020-30
3397861
Qual Life Res. 1998 Aug;7(6):535-44
9737143
Psychooncology. 2007 Sep;16(9):787-95
17086555
Psychol Rev. 1989 Apr;96(2):234-54
2710874
J Soc Psychol. 1997 Jun;137(3):369-73
9200973