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Goal adjustment influence on psychological well‐being following advanced breast cancer diagnosis
Author(s) -
Lam Wendy W. T.,
Yeo Winnie,
Suen Joyce,
Ho Wing Ming,
Tsang Janice,
Soong Inda,
Yau Tze Kok,
Wong Ka Yan,
Sze Wing Kin,
Ng Alice W. Y.,
Kwong Ava,
Suen Dacita,
Fong Daniel,
Ho Samuel,
Fielding Richard
Publication year - 2016
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.3871
Subject(s) - optimism , disengagement theory , psychology , anxiety , psychological intervention , clinical psychology , coping (psychology) , affect (linguistics) , psychological well being , psychotherapist , psychiatry , medicine , gerontology , communication
Objective A diagnosis of advanced breast cancer (ABC) challenges a woman's ambitions. This longitudinal study explored (1) if goal adjustment disposition influenced psychological adjustment patterns among women with ABC and (2) if dispositional hope and optimism moderate effects of goal adjustment on psychological adjustment. Methods One hundred ninety three out of 225 women with ABC were assessed while they were awaiting/receiving initial chemotherapy, then again at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post‐baseline. Goal disengagement, goal reengagement, optimism, hope, and psychological adjustment (anxiety, depression, and positive affect) were assessed at baseline; psychological adjustment was reassessed at each follow‐up. Latent growth curve modeling was used to examine the change of psychological adjustment and test the study objectives. Results High goal disengagement, low reengagement, and high optimism were associated with lower initial anxiety, while high goal disengagement and optimism predicted a slower rate of change in anxiety. High goal disengagement, reengagement, and optimism were associated with lower initial depression. High goal reengagement, optimism, and hope were associated with initial positive affect scores, while optimism predicted its rate of change. Optimism moderated the effect of goal disengagement on anxiety and depression, whereas hope moderated the effect of goal reengagement on positive affect. Conclusion Goal disengagement and reengagement are two relatively independent processes influencing psychological well‐being. These findings will help clinicians to tailor specific interventions to help women coping with the diagnosis of ABC. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.