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. 2022 May;31(5):848-855.
doi: 10.1002/pon.5876. Epub 2022 Jan 10.

Adjustment of young women with breast cancer after chemotherapy: A mediation model of emotional competence via emotional distress

Anne-Sophie Baudry  1   2   3 , Sonya Yakimova  4 , Anne Congard  5 , Aurélie Untas  6 , Séverine Guiu  7   8 , Claudia Lefeuvre-Plesse  9 , Catherine Loustalot  10 , Cécile Guillemet  11 , Carine Segura-Djezzar  12 , Aude-Marie Savoye  13 , Florence Coussy  14 , Jean-Sébastien Frenel  15 , Laurence Vanlemmens  16 , Véronique Christophe  2   3
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Adjustment of young women with breast cancer after chemotherapy: A mediation model of emotional competence via emotional distress

Anne-Sophie Baudry et al. Psychooncology. 2022 May.

Abstract

Objective: Emotional competence (EC) is considered a substantial resource in the adjustment of cancer patients, especially via its effect on anxiety and depression symptoms. This research aimed at assessing the impact of intrapersonal EC in young women (≤45 years) with breast cancer (YWBC) on their specific quality of life (i.e. subjective experience related to daily difficulties and perceived repercussions of the disease and treatments) related to chemotherapy, via anxiety and depression symptoms.

Methods: Two hundred fifty YWBC from 24 French centers completed a self-reported questionnaire after diagnosis (T1) and after the chemotherapy phase (T2), comprising the Young Women Breast Cancer Inventory, the Profile of EC and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The indirect effect of EC (T1) on subjective experience (T2) via anxiety and depression symptoms (T2) was tested using regressions and the Macro PROCESS.

Results: Emotional competence predicted fewer anxiety and depression symptoms at T1 and T2, and a better subjective experience at T2 via fewer anxiety and depression symptoms. Depression symptoms appeared to be a stronger mediator than anxiety symptoms on four dimensions (Support from close relatives, feeling of couple cohesion, body image and sexuality, management of children and everyday life), whereas anxiety symptoms appeared to be a stronger mediator on two dimensions (negative affectivity and apprehension about the future, deterioration of relationships).

Conclusions: These results support the importance of developing psycho-affective interventions to reinforce the EC of YWBC during chemotherapy in order to facilitate the cognitive and emotional processes necessary for a better adjustment and subjective experience.

Keywords: anxiety; breast cancer; cancer; chemotherapy; depression; emotional intelligence; oncology; psycho-oncology; quality of life.

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References

REFERENCES

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