Abstract

Breast cancer can be a devastating disease that impacts a woman in all spheres of her life (Ingram, 1989). Previous studies have examined the impact of breast cancer on body satisfaction, as well as the impact on emotional well-being. Studies have also examined the role of the coping style that a woman engages in response to the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in the woman's psychological adjustment to the disease. However, to date, no research has introduced and tested a multifaceted model.

The purpose of this study was to develop a model predicting psychological maladjustment in women treated for breast cancer using maladaptive coping style, importance of appearance, body satisfaction, perceived control over treatment choice. In order to test this model, 125 women that had been surgically treated for breast cancer were contacted through two Southern California breast cancer centers to request participation in the present study. Eleven mastectomy patients and 12 lumpectomy patients completed and returned the questionnaires, achieving an 18.4% response rate. The data partially supported the model as evidenced by the effect sizes of the beta coefficients. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size. Specifically, maladaptive coping predicted body satisfaction with a moderate effect size. The prediction of body satisfaction by importance of appearance and coping varied by treatment group (large effect size). Importance of appearance, maladaptive coping, and treatment type predicted psychological maladjustment with at least a moderate effect size. The prediction of psychological maladjustment by importance of appearance and coping varied by treatment group (large effect size). Body satisfaction predicted psychological maladjustment with a large effect size. Furthermore, the prediction of psychological maladjustment by body satisfaction varied by treatment type (moderate effect size). There did not appear to be clear evidence that body satisfaction mediated the prediction of psychological maladjustment by importance of appearance and maladaptive coping. Finally, perceived control over treatment choice and treatment type predicted maladaptive coping with a moderate effect size. Based on the aforementioned findings, implications and suggestions for further research are provided.

LLU Discipline

Clinical Psychology

Department

Clinical Psychology

School

Graduate Studies

First Advisor

Janet Sonne

Second Advisor

Gloria Cowan

Third Advisor

Carlos Fayard

Fourth Advisor

Ivanna Guthrie Heater

Fifth Advisor

Jason Owen

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2007

Date (Title Page)

8-2007

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Breast Neoplasms -- surgery; Breast Neoplasms -- psychology; Stress, Psychological; Adaptation, Psychological; Body Image

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xiii; 124

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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