title: Trait mindfulness, repression, suppression, and self-reported mood and stress symptoms among women with breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to identify relationships between trait mindfulness, repressive, and suppressive emotional styles, and the relative importance of these traits in their association with self-reported psychological health among women with breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the 277 women with breast cancer accrued in the study, 227 (81.9%) completed a set of questionnaires assessing personality traits, stress symptoms, and mood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High levels of mindfulness were associated with fewer stress-related symptoms and less mood disturbance, while high levels of suppression were associated with poorer self-reported health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals' dispositional ways to manage negative emotions were associated with the experience of symptoms and aversive moods. Helping patients cultivate mindful insights and reduce deliberate emotional inhibition may be a useful focus for psycho-oncological interventions.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Alberta, Canada. rie.tamagawa@albertahealthservices.ca
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tamagawa
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giese-Davis
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Speca
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Doll
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stephen
authors.forename: Linda E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Carlson
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012094:Repression, Psychology; D057566:Self Report; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires