Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-t5pn6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-16T15:47:05.668Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Life Stressors, Emotional Avoidance and Breast Cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2014

Violeta Cardenal ,
Margarita Ortiz-Tallo ,
Isabel Martín Frías  and
Joaquina Martínez Lozano
Violeta Cardenal
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense (Spain)
Margarita Ortiz-Tallo*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Málaga (Spain)
Isabel Martín Frías
Affiliation:
Universidad de Málaga (Spain)
Joaquina Martínez Lozano
Affiliation:
Clínica Ntra. Sra. de Belén de Murcia (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Margarita Ortiz-Tallo, Facultad de Psicología, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga (Spain). Phone: 952132555. FAX: 952131101. E-mail: mortiztallo@uma.es
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

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.

Keywords

breast canceradverse life eventsemotional suppressioncáncer de mamaestresores vitalesevitación emocional
Type
Articles
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , November 2008 , pp. 522 - 530
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ader, R., Cohen, H., & Felten, D. (1995). Psychoneuroinmunology: Interactions between the nervous system and the immune system. The Lancet, 345, 99–103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Aro, A.R., De Konning, H.J., Schreck, M., Anttila, A., & Pukkala, E. (2005). Psychological risk factors of incidence of breast cancer: A prospective cohort study in Finland. Psychological Medicine, 35, 1515–1521.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bleiker, E., Ader, H.J., & Van-Daal, W. (1995). Personality traits of women with breast cancer: Before and after diagnosis. Psychological-Reports, 76, 1139–1146.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bleiker, E., Van-der-Ploeg, H.M., Hendriks, J.H., & Ader, H.J., (1996). Personality factors and breast cancer development: A prospective longitudinal study. Journal National Cancer Institute, 20, 1478–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Butow, P.N., Hiller, J.E., Price, M.A., Thackway, S.V., Kricker, A., & Tennant, C.C. (2000). Epidemiological evidence for a relationship between life events, coping style, and personality factors in the development of breast cancer. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 49, 169–181.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cano-Vindel, A., & Miguel-Tobal, J.J. (2001). Emociones y salud. Ansiedad y Estrés, 7, 111–121.Google Scholar
Cano-Vindel, A., Sirgo, A., & Pérez Manga, G. (1994). Cáncer y estilo represivo de afrontamiento. Ansiedad y Estrés, 0, 101–112.Google Scholar
Cardenal, V. (2001). Estilos psicológicos y enfermedad física: variables psicosociales—el estilo de evitación emocional—y su influencia en el cáncer. Escritos de Psicología, 5, 36–52.Google Scholar
Cardenal, V., & Fierro, A. (2001). Sexo y edad en estilos de personalidad, bienestar personal y adaptación social. Psicothema, 13, 118–126.Google Scholar
Cardenal, V., Sánchez-López, M.P., & Ortiz-Tallo, M. (2005). Impact on personality due to loss of or separation from loved ones. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 10, 267–292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, C.C., David, A.S., Nunnerley, H., Michell, M., Dawon, J.L., Berry, H., Dobbs, A., & Fahy, T. (1995). Adverse life events and breast cancer: Case-control study. British Medical Journal, 311, 1527–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coe, C.L., Wiener, S.G., & Levine, S. (1983). Psychoendocrine responses of mother and infant monkeys to disturbance and separation. In Rosenblum, L. A. & Moltz, H. (Eds.), Symbiosis in parent-offspring interactions (pp. 189–214). New York: Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Contrada, R.J., Leventhal, H., & O'Leary, A. (1990). Personality and health. In Pervin, L.A., Handbook of personality (pp. 638–670). New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Cooper, C.L., & Faragher, E.B. (1993). Psychosocial stress and breast cancer: The inter-relationship between stress events, coping strategies, and personality. Psychological Medical, 23, 653–662.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cordero, A., Pamos, A., & Seisdedos, N. (1999). Inventario de personalidad NEO revisado (NEO PI-R): Inventario NEO reducido de cinco factores (NEO-FFI). Madrid: TEA Ediciones.Google Scholar
Costa, P.T. Jr., & McCrae, R.R. (1992). The NEO-PI-R Personality Inventory manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources [Spanish version: Neo PI-R, Inventario NEO Revisado (NEO-FFI). Madrid: TEA. 1999].Google Scholar
Costa, P.T. Jr., & McCrae, R.R. (2002). Looking backward: Changes in the mean levels of personality traits from 80 to 12. In Cervone, D. & Mischel, W. (Eds.), Advances in personality science (pp. 219–237). New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Cruess, D.G., Antoni, M.H., & McGregor, B.A. (2000). Cognitive-behavioral stress management reduces serum cortisol by enhancing benefit finding among women being treated for early stage breast cancer. Psychosomatic Medicine, 62, 304–308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ewertz, M. (1986). Bereavement and breast cancer. British Journal of Cancer 53, 701–703.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Folkman, S., Lazarus, R.S., Gruen, R.J., & DeLongis, A. (1986). Appraisal, coping, health status, and psychological symptoms. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 571–579.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Garssen, B. (2004). Psychological factors and cancer development: Evidence after 30 years of research. Clinical Psychological Review, 24, 315–338.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grassi, L., Rossi, E., Sabato, S., Cruciani, G., & Zambelli, M. (2004). Diagnostic criteria for psychosomatic research and psychosocial variables in breast cancer patients. Psychosomatics 45, 483–491.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greenberg, L.S., & Foerster, F.S. (1996). Task analysis exemplified: The process of resolving unfinished business. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 439–446.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greer, S., & Morris, T. (1975). Psychological attributes of women who develop breast cancer: A controlled study. Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine, 19, 147–153.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hahn, R.C., & Petitti, D.B. (1988). Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-rated depression and the incidence of breast cancer. Cancer, 61, 845–848.3.0.CO;2-Q>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Holland, J. C., & Murillo, M. (2003). Historia internacional de la psico-oncología. In Trill, M. Die (Ed.), Manual de psicooncología (pp. 21–40). Madrid: Ades Editores.Google Scholar
Iwamitsu, Y., Shimoda, K., Abe, H., Tani, T., Okawa, M., & Buck, R. (2005a). The relation between negative emotional suppression and emotional distress in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Health Communication, 18, 201–215.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Iwamitsu, Y., Shimoda, K., Abe, H., Tani, T., Okawa, M., & Buck, R. (2005b). Anxiety, emotional suppression, and psychological distress before and after breast cancer diagnosis. Psychosomatics, 46, 19–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kenny, D.T., Carlon, J.G., McGuigan, F.J., & Sheppard, J.L. (2000). Stress and health: Research and clinical applications. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers.Google Scholar
Kvikstad, A., Vatten, L.J, Tretli, S., & Kvinnsland, S. (1994). Death of a husband or marital divorce related to risk of breast cancer in middle-aged women. A nested case-control study among Norwegian women born 1935–1954. European Journal cancer, 30, 473–477.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lieberman, M., & Goldstein, B. (2005). Not all negative emotions are equal: The role of emotional expression in online support groups for women with breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 15, 160–168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
López Martínez, A.E. (2003). Hacer frente al cáncer. Archidona, Spain: Ediciones Aljibe.Google Scholar
López Martínez, A.E., Esteve, R., Ramirez, C., & Anarte, M.T. (1998). Dimensionalización del contructo de Personalidad Tipo C. Psykhe, 7, 3–12.Google Scholar
López Martínez, A.E., Ramírez, C., Esteve, R., & Anarte, M.T. (2002). El constructo Tipo C: una contribución a su definición a partir de datos empíricos. Psicología Conductual, 10, 229–249.Google Scholar
McCallum, M., Piper, W.E., & Morin, H. (1995). Affect and outcome in short-term group therapy for loss. International Journal Group Psychoterapy, 43, 303–344.Google Scholar
McCaul, K., Sandgren, A.K., & King, B. (1999). Coping and adjustment to breast cancer. Psycho-oncology, 8, 230–236.3.0.CO;2-#>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miguel-Tobal, J.J., Casado, M.I., Cano-Vindel, A., & Spielberger, C.D. (2001). Inventario de Expresión de Ira EstadoRasgo—STAXI. Madrid: TEA Ediciones.Google Scholar
Moorey, S., & Greer, S. (1989). Psychological therapy for patients with cancer. London: Heinemann Books.Google Scholar
Moorey, S., & Greer, S. (2002). Cognitive behaviour therapy for people with cancer. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Moorey, S., Greer, S., Watson, M., Baruch, J., Robertson, M., Mason, A., Rowden, L., Tunmore, R., Law, M., & Bliss, J. (1994). Adjuvant psychological therapy for patients with cancer: Outcome at one year. Psycho-Oncology, 3, 39–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morris, T., & Greer, S. (1980). A Type C for cancer? Low trait anxiety in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Cancer Detection and Prevention, 3, Abstract 102.Google Scholar
Rodríguez-Marín, J., Terol, M.C., López-Roig, S., & Pastor, M.A. (1992). Evaluación del afrontamiento del estrés: propiedades psicométricas del cuestionario de formas de afrontamiento de acontecimientos estresantes. Revista de Psicología de la Salud, 4, 59–84.Google Scholar
Ruiz, M. A., Bermúdez, J., Olivares, A., & Garde, S. (1999). Factores psicosociales en el cáncer de mama: un estudio cuasiprospectivo. Boletín de Psicología, 64, 57–80.Google Scholar
Sánchez-López, M.P. (1999). Temporalidad, cronopsicología y diferencias individuales. Madrid: Centro de Estudios Ramón Areces.Google Scholar
Sandin, B., Chorot, P., Santed, M.A., & Jiménez, M.P. (1994) Stress behaviour types, personality, alexitimia, coping and state-trait anger expression. Stress News, 5, 3–9.Google Scholar
Sebastián Herránz, J., Mateos, N., & Prado, C. (2000). Eventos vitales estresantes como factores de vulnerabilidad en el cáncer de mama. Ansiedad y Estrés, 6, 21–38.Google Scholar
Seligman, M.E.P., Walker, E.F., & Rosenhan, D.L. (2001). Abnormal Psychology (4th ed.). New York: Norton.Google Scholar
Sirgo, A., Díaz-Ovejero, M., Cano-Vindel, A., & Pérez-Manga, G. (2001). Ansiedad, ira y depresión en mujeres con cáncer de mama. Ansiedad y Estrés, 7, 259–271.Google Scholar
Spielberger, C.D. (1988). State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI). Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.Google Scholar
Temoshok, L., & Dreher, H. (1992). The Type C connection. New York: Random House.Google Scholar
Valls Llobet, C. (2005). Las causas orgánicas del malestar de las mujeres. Mujer y Salud, 16, 5–10.Google Scholar
Velasco Arias, S. (2005). Síndromes del malestar de las mujeres en atención primaria. Mujer y Salud, 16, 11–15.Google Scholar
Watson, M., & Greer, S. (1983). Development of a questionnaire measure of emotional control. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 27, 299–305.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yehuda, R. (2003). Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal alterations in PTSD: Are they relevant to understanding cortisol alterations in cancer? Brain, Behavior and Immunity, 17, 73–83.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed