Sense of control and adjustment to breast cancer: The importance of balancing control coping styles

Author(s): AntonCulver, H., Schwartz, C. E., Shapiro, D. H., McQuade, J., Breuer, A. M., Taylor, T. H., Lee, H., Kurosaki, T.

Journal/Book: Behav Med. 1999; 25: 1319 Eighteenth St NW, Washington, DC 20036-1802, USA. Heldref Publications. 101-109.

Abstract: The relationship of modes of control and desire for control to psychosocial adjustment in women with breast cancer was examined. Fifty-eight women with stage I or stage II breast cancer were surveyed shortly after their diagnosis and again 4 and 8 months later The authors hypothesized that a control profile in which individuals use a positive yielding (ie, accepting) mode of control in conjunction with an assertive mode results in better adjustment than relying exclusively or primarily on an assertive mode. Results lend preliminary support to this hypothesis. At 8-month follow-up, those women who had a high desire for control and were low in positive yielding control showed the poorest adjustment, whereas those high in desire and the positive yielding mode showed the best psychosocial adjustment. The findings suggest that balanced we of active and yielding control efforts may lead to optimal psychosocial adjustment and quality of life in the face of life-threatening illnesses.

Note: Article Astin JA, Stanford Univ, Sch Med, Stanford Ctr Res & Dis Prevent, Stanford,CA 94305 USA

Keyword(s): breast cancer; psychosocial adjustment; quality of life; sense of control; PERSONAL CONTROL; PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT; POSITIVE ILLUSIONS; CONTROL PROFILE; DISEASE RISK; STRESS; HEALTH; DEPRESSION; ADAPTATION; VALIDATION

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