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Hopelessness as a predictor of depressive symptoms for breast cancer patients coping with recurrence
Author(s) -
Brothers Brittany M.,
Andersen Barbara L.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.1394
Subject(s) - feeling , coping (psychology) , breast cancer , depressive symptoms , social support , clinical psychology , depression (economics) , psychology , psychiatry , cancer , medicine , anxiety , psychotherapist , social psychology , economics , macroeconomics
Objective : The Hopelessness Theory of Depression provides the framework to test feelings of hopelessness and social support as predictors of depressive symptoms in women recently diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer. Methods : Patients ( N =67) were assessed within weeks of receiving their recurrence diagnosis (initial) and again 4 months later (follow‐up). Results : Controlling for their current physical and depressive symptoms, hopelessness at diagnosis was a significant predictor of the maintenance of depressive symptoms among patients. A corollary of the theory was also confirmed: social support (i.e. the presence/absence of a romantic partner) interacted with hopelessness. Conclusions : Women who reported feelings of hopelessness and who were alone (i.e. without a partner) were especially vulnerable to later depressive symptoms. The data provide support for the Hopelessness Theory and suggest factors conferring risk for depressive symptoms for those coping with a worsened cancer prognosis. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.