Life Stressors, Emotional Avoidance and Breast Cancer

• Published in: The Spanish journal of psychology 2008-11, Vol.11 (2), p.522-530
• Main Authors: Cardenal, Violeta, Ortiz-Tallo, Margarita, Frías, Isabel Martín, Lozano, Joaquina Martínez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Avoidance Learning; Biological and medical sciences; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Cancer; Defense Mechanisms; Emotions; Empirical research; European studies; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Health; Humans; Illness and personality; Illness, stress and coping; Life Change Events; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Mental stress; Middle Aged; Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data; Psychology; Psychology and medicine; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychometrics; Repression, Psychology; Trauma; Tumors; Well-being
• ISSN: 1138-7416; 1988-2904
• DOI: 10.1017/S1138741600004522

Two groups of women were assessed in psychological aspects considered by some authors of interest for personal well-being. The sample consisted of 118 women, 58 diagnosed with breast cancer and 60 healthy women, of similar ages and personal circumstances. The purpose of the study was: (a) to explore the existence of stressful life events in the women's history and their degree of subjective distress and (b) to determine whether or not there is an emotional avoidance style in the group of women with breast cancer. The following assessment instruments were employed: the “Cuestionario de Formas de Afrontamiento” (CEA), the Five-Factor Inventory NEO-PI-R, and the State-Trait Anger Inventory (STAXI). The results revealed more stressful vital events in the last two years in the group of women with breast cancer and significant differences in the degree of current distress. They also obtained higher scores in current anger, resignation, and neuroticism. Se ha realizado una evaluación de aspectos psicológicos a un grupo de 118 mujeres; 58 diagnosticadas de cáncer de mama y 60 mujeres sanas, de edades y situación personal similares. El estudio tiene como objetivos evaluar en la historia de las mujeres con cáncer de mama y comparar con el grupo de mujeres sanas: (a) la existencia de estresores vitales y su grado de malestar subjetivo y (b) rasgos de personalidad considerados característicos de un estilo de evitación emocional. Los instrumentos de evaluación utilizados son: el Cuestionario de Formas de Afrontamiento (CEA), el Inventario de Cinco Factores NEO-PI-R, y el Inventario Rasgo-Estado de Ira (STAXI). Los resultados encuentran, en el grupo de mujeres con cáncer de mama, mayor proporción de situaciones vitales estresantes durante los dos últimos años y diferencias significativas en el grado de malestar actual. También puntuaron más alto en las variables ira actual, resignación y neuroticismo.