Learned resourcefulness, quality of life, and depressive symptoms for patients with breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationships among learned resourcefulness, quality of life, and depressive symptoms of women with breast cancer. In addition, the direct and indirect effects of learned resourcefulness among disease characteristics and quality of life and depressive symptoms were examined.


METHODS
Descriptive, correlational, and predictive.


METHODS
Two teaching hospitals in southern Taiwan.


METHODS
150 women with breast cancer.


METHODS
Participants completed demographic information concerning disease characteristics and learned resourcefulness via the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression questionnaire and the SF-36 health survey during visits to the outpatient oncology department.


METHODS
Learned resourcefulness, depressive symptoms, and quality of life.


RESULTS
About 35% of the participants had depressive symptoms. Participants with lower income and those undergoing adjuvant therapy displayed more depressive symptoms. Learned resourcefulness was a strong predictor of depressive symptoms and quality of life, but no mediating effects of resourcefulness on depressive symptoms existed. In addition, when participants had better income and were at a lower stage, a better quality of life was evident.


CONCLUSIONS
A high amount of patients with breast cancer experience depressive symptoms. Learned resourcefulness can be a method of helping patients to improve their self-control behaviors and change their negative thoughts.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses and healthcare professionals can apply resourcefulness strategies to promote quality of life and to prevent depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer.
Huang
Chiung-Yu
CY
Department of Nursing, I-Shou University, Yanchao Hsiang, Taiwan. chyh@isu.edu.tw
Guo
Su-Er
SE
Hung
Chao-Ming
CM
Shih
Shen-Liang
SL
Lee
Li-Chun
LC
Hung
Guo-Chen
GC
Huang
Shih-Ming
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult