Pessimism predicts anxiety, depression and quality of life in female cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of optimism/pessimism for anxiety, depression and health-related quality of life in female cancer patients, quantified with and without controlling the corresponding base level.


METHODS
A total of 97 women with breast cancer and other gynaecological cancer completed the Life Orientation Test, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Health Survey SF-8 at three time points: during their stay in the hospital (T1), 2 weeks later (T2) and 3 months later (T3).


RESULTS
The degree of self-assessed pessimism at T1 was significantly associated with anxiety, depression and health-related quality of life at T3. After controlling for the base levels of anxiety, depression and health-related quality of life, only the predictive value of pessimism remained significant and substantial.


CONCLUSIONS
Especially, women with a high level of pessimism are at risk for higher levels of anxiety and depression in addition to lowered health-related quality of life in the course of the disease. The results indicate that it seems to be more important not to be pessimistic than to be optimistic.
Zenger
Markus
M
Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. markus.zenger@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Glaesmer
Heide
H
Höckel
Michael
M
Hinz
Andreas
A
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology*; D001290:Attitude; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors