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Journal of Cancer Survivorship

Published in:

01-06-2009

Emotional distress impacts fear of the future among breast cancer survivors not the reverse

Authors: Sophie Lebel, Zeev Rosberger, Linda Edgar, Gerald M. Devins

Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship | Issue 2/2009

Abstract

Introduction

Fear of the future is one of the most stressful aspects of having cancer. Research to date has conceptualized fear of the future as a precursor of distress or stress-response symptoms. Yet it is equally plausible that distress would predict increased fear of the future or that they would have a reciprocal influence on each other. The purpose of the present study was to examine the bidirectional relations between fear of the future and distress as well as intrusion and avoidance among breast cancer survivors at 3, 7, 11, and 15 months after diagnosis.

Methods

We used a bivariate latent difference score model for dynamic change to examine these bidirectional relationships among 146 early-stage breast cancer survivors. Using Lisrel version 8.80, we examined four models testing different hypothesized relationships between fear of the future and distress and intrusion and avoidance.

Results

Based on model fit evaluation, our data shows that decreases in distress over time lead to a reduction of fear of the future but that changes in fear do not lead to changes in distress. On the other hand, there is no relationship between changes in fear of the future and intrusion and avoidance over time.

Discussion

Ongoing fear of the future does not appear to be a necessary condition for the development of stress-response symptoms. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Future studies need to explore the role of distressing emotions in the development and exacerbation of fear of the future among cancer survivors.

We would like to thank the two anonymous reviewers who suggested we clearly define the concepts of fear of the future and fear of cancer recurrence.

For a more detailed description of the relations between fear of the future and sociodemographic factors, please refer to an earlier publication (Lebel et al. 2007).

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Title: Emotional distress impacts fear of the future among breast cancer survivors not the reverse
Authors: Sophie Lebel
Zeev Rosberger
Linda Edgar
Gerald M. Devins
Publication date: 01-06-2009
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship / Issue 2/2009
Print ISSN: 1932-2259
Electronic ISSN: 1932-2267
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-009-0082-5

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Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

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