title: Illness perception clusters at diagnosis predict psychological distress among women with breast cancer at 6 months post diagnosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine the extent to which illness perceptions and coping strategies among women diagnosed with breast cancer explain psychological distress at diagnosis and at 6 months post diagnosis relative to demographic and illness-related variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women were recruited to the study shortly after diagnosis. A total of 90 women completed study materials (Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised, the Cancer Coping Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) at time 1. The same questionnaires were sent approximately 6 months later to those who had consented at time 1, and completed questionnaires were returned by 72 women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cluster analysis was used to identify groups of respondents who reported a similar profile of illness perception scores. Regression analysis demonstrated that one of these clusters was more likely to experience psychological distress than the other both at diagnosis and at 6 months post diagnosis. Illness perception cluster membership and positive focus type coping were the most important and consistent predictors of lower psychological distress at diagnosis and at 6 months post diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Illness perceptions remained relatively stable over the study period, and therefore we are unable to clarify whether changes in illness cognitions are associated with a corresponding change in psychological symptoms. Future research should evaluate the impact on psychological distress of interventions specifically designed to modify illness cognitions among women with breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Marie Curie Hospice Belfast, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Noleen K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: McCorry
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dempster
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hogg
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kirk
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires