The Moderating Effects of Anxiety and Breast Cancer Locus of Control on Depression

• Published in: Journal of health psychology 2005-09, Vol.10 (5), p.687-694
• Main Authors: Naus, Mary J., Price, Esther C., Peter, Magdalene P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anxiety; Anxiety - diagnosis; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety - etiology; Attitude to Health; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - epidemiology; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Cancer; Culture; Depression; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - etiology; Female; Health; Health Behavior; Health locus of control beliefs; Humans; Internal-External Control; Locus of control; Measurement; Middle Aged; Psychology; Psychometrics; Quality of Life - psychology; Scale analysis; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survivors; Survivors - psychology
• ISSN: 1359-1053; 1461-7277
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105305055324

Research suggests that depression and anxiety can affect quality of life in breast cancer survivors. Moreover, certain cognitive control beliefs have been implicated in the development and maintenance of both depression and anxiety. The present study examined the relationship between breast cancer locus of control beliefs and depression in early-stage breast cancer survivors. The role of anxiety in moderating the relation between breast cancer locus of control and depression was also examined. Results showed that certain locus of control scores interact with anxiety to predict depression in early-stage breast cancer survivors. Findings further suggest that certain control beliefs previously considered adaptive in non-medically ill populations may be maladaptive in early-stage breast cancer survivors. Implications for further research are discussed.