TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictors of distress in women with breast cancer: The importance of illness perceptions
AU - Gibbons, Andrea
AU - Groarke, AnnMarie
AU - Curtis, Ruth
AU - Keane, Anne Marie
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Background: The present study assessed the impact of illness perceptions and coping on distress in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods: Women with breast cancer (N =100) completed measures of illness perceptions (IPQ-R), anxiety (STAI), perceived stress (PSS), coping (MAC), and positive and negative affect (PANAS). Findings: Controlling for disease and demographic variables, illness perceptions accounted for 30% of depression, 15% of perceived stress, and 15% of state anxiety. Higher personal control beliefs (p < .05), and a
stronger illness identity (p < .01), predicted higher levels of depression. Reporting more serious consequences predicted more perceived stress, whilst having a better understanding of the illness predicted lower anxiety (p < .05). Higher levels of fighting spirit (p < .001), and low levels of fatalistic coping (p < .05) predicted higher positive affect. Discussion: Both illness perceptions and coping should be considered when developing future interventions to reduce distress.
AB - Background: The present study assessed the impact of illness perceptions and coping on distress in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods: Women with breast cancer (N =100) completed measures of illness perceptions (IPQ-R), anxiety (STAI), perceived stress (PSS), coping (MAC), and positive and negative affect (PANAS). Findings: Controlling for disease and demographic variables, illness perceptions accounted for 30% of depression, 15% of perceived stress, and 15% of state anxiety. Higher personal control beliefs (p < .05), and a
stronger illness identity (p < .01), predicted higher levels of depression. Reporting more serious consequences predicted more perceived stress, whilst having a better understanding of the illness predicted lower anxiety (p < .05). Higher levels of fighting spirit (p < .001), and low levels of fatalistic coping (p < .05) predicted higher positive affect. Discussion: Both illness perceptions and coping should be considered when developing future interventions to reduce distress.
M3 - Meeting abstract
SN - 0887-0446
VL - 27
SP - 215
JO - Psychology and Health
JF - Psychology and Health
IS - Suppl 1
ER -