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Global meaning and emotional expressivity as possible protective and mediating factors to mental health status and psychological adjustment to breast cancer. / Fotios Anagnostopoulos

Swansea University Author: Fotios Anagnostopoulos

Abstract

Based on theories of adjustment to chronic illness, cognitive and emotional processing of traumatic events, and meaning- making in the context of stress and coping, this study explored two factors believed to influence psychological adjustment to breast cancer. The main variables of interest was exi...

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Published: 2008
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Master of Philosophy
Degree name: M.Phil
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa42951
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first_indexed 2018-08-02T18:55:56Z
last_indexed 2019-10-21T16:48:45Z
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spelling 2018-08-29T15:45:45.1823069 v2 42951 2018-08-02 Global meaning and emotional expressivity as possible protective and mediating factors to mental health status and psychological adjustment to breast cancer. ebd8e6c11d117151e587a5ed5a86463e NULL Fotios Anagnostopoulos Fotios Anagnostopoulos true true 2018-08-02 Based on theories of adjustment to chronic illness, cognitive and emotional processing of traumatic events, and meaning- making in the context of stress and coping, this study explored two factors believed to influence psychological adjustment to breast cancer. The main variables of interest was existential meaning (defined as the existence of purpose, and personal meaning in life) and emotional expressivity (characterized by the outwardly display of emotions). The aim was twofold: First, to test whether high levels of existential meaning or expressivity (moderators) could weaken the effect of adverse psychological responses to breast cancer (intrusive thoughts) on psychological adjustment to it. Second, to test whether the higher the intensity of the adverse psychological responses to cancer (e.g., intrusive thoughts, helplessness), the lower a patient’s existential meaning or emotional expressivity levels (mediators), which would, in turn, be associated with higher levels of psychological maladjustment. One hundred and fifty three women with breast cancer, five years on average after diagnosis of their disease, were recruited from the breast clinic of an Athenian public cancer hospital, during their follow- up. They completed interview and mail surveys that assessed their level of existential meaning, emotional expressivity, and approach to coping. Main results of the study show that (a) as unwanted, recurrent, and uncontrollable intrusive thoughts and memories about breast cancer become more disturbing, psychological adjustment becomes poorer, (b) as sense of existential meaning, coherence and purpose in life become stronger, psychological adjustment to breast cancer is enhanced, (c) existential meaning partially mediates the relationship between psychological responses to breast cancer and psychological adjustment to it. Implications of these findings for future research, theory development, and clinical practice are discussed. E-Thesis Meaning-making, breast cancer, 31 12 2008 2008-12-31 COLLEGE NANME Swansea University Medical School COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Master of Philosophy M.Phil 2018-08-29T15:45:45.1823069 2018-08-02T16:24:30.8666107 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Swansea University Medical School - Medicine Fotios Anagnostopoulos NULL 1 0042951-02082018162534.pdf 10821341.pdf 2018-08-02T16:25:34.8130000 Output 6917697 application/pdf E-Thesis true 2018-08-02T16:25:34.8130000 false
title Global meaning and emotional expressivity as possible protective and mediating factors to mental health status and psychological adjustment to breast cancer.
spellingShingle Global meaning and emotional expressivity as possible protective and mediating factors to mental health status and psychological adjustment to breast cancer.
Fotios Anagnostopoulos
title_short Global meaning and emotional expressivity as possible protective and mediating factors to mental health status and psychological adjustment to breast cancer.
title_full Global meaning and emotional expressivity as possible protective and mediating factors to mental health status and psychological adjustment to breast cancer.
title_fullStr Global meaning and emotional expressivity as possible protective and mediating factors to mental health status and psychological adjustment to breast cancer.
title_full_unstemmed Global meaning and emotional expressivity as possible protective and mediating factors to mental health status and psychological adjustment to breast cancer.
title_sort Global meaning and emotional expressivity as possible protective and mediating factors to mental health status and psychological adjustment to breast cancer.
author_id_str_mv ebd8e6c11d117151e587a5ed5a86463e
author_id_fullname_str_mv ebd8e6c11d117151e587a5ed5a86463e_***_Fotios Anagnostopoulos
author Fotios Anagnostopoulos
author2 Fotios Anagnostopoulos
format E-Thesis
publishDate 2008
institution Swansea University
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str Swansea University Medical School - Medicine{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Swansea University Medical School - Medicine
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Based on theories of adjustment to chronic illness, cognitive and emotional processing of traumatic events, and meaning- making in the context of stress and coping, this study explored two factors believed to influence psychological adjustment to breast cancer. The main variables of interest was existential meaning (defined as the existence of purpose, and personal meaning in life) and emotional expressivity (characterized by the outwardly display of emotions). The aim was twofold: First, to test whether high levels of existential meaning or expressivity (moderators) could weaken the effect of adverse psychological responses to breast cancer (intrusive thoughts) on psychological adjustment to it. Second, to test whether the higher the intensity of the adverse psychological responses to cancer (e.g., intrusive thoughts, helplessness), the lower a patient’s existential meaning or emotional expressivity levels (mediators), which would, in turn, be associated with higher levels of psychological maladjustment. One hundred and fifty three women with breast cancer, five years on average after diagnosis of their disease, were recruited from the breast clinic of an Athenian public cancer hospital, during their follow- up. They completed interview and mail surveys that assessed their level of existential meaning, emotional expressivity, and approach to coping. Main results of the study show that (a) as unwanted, recurrent, and uncontrollable intrusive thoughts and memories about breast cancer become more disturbing, psychological adjustment becomes poorer, (b) as sense of existential meaning, coherence and purpose in life become stronger, psychological adjustment to breast cancer is enhanced, (c) existential meaning partially mediates the relationship between psychological responses to breast cancer and psychological adjustment to it. Implications of these findings for future research, theory development, and clinical practice are discussed.
published_date 2008-12-31T03:53:58Z
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score 10.997637

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