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Cognitive function and emotional vulnerability in metastatic breast cancer: Moderating effects of age and social support
Author(s) -
Dobretsova Anna,
Derakshan Nazanin
Publication year - 2021
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.5732
Subject(s) - cognition , anxiety , clinical psychology , psychology , breast cancer , vulnerability (computing) , depression (economics) , cognitive vulnerability , medicine , psychiatry , cancer , depressive symptoms , computer security , computer science , economics , macroeconomics
Objective Previous literature has established a relationship between cognitive function and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post‐traumatic stress in primary breast cancer, but not in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The current study examined the relationship between cognitive function and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post‐traumatic stress as well as the moderating effects of age, time since MBC diagnosis, and social support. Methods Subjective and objective measures of cognitive function as well as self‐reports of emotional vulnerability were completed by 59 women diagnosed with MBC who were recruited through social media and support groups. Results Emotional vulnerability scores were associated with perceived measures of cognitive function. Additionally, low levels of perceived cognitive function were met with increased levels of depression with social support moderating this relationship buffering against depression. Age was found to moderate the relationship between cognitive function and post‐traumatic stress with younger women at a greater risk of vulnerability. Out of all the emotional vulnerability measures, only anxiety negatively correlated with objective task performance. Conclusions This study established a relationship between cognitive function and emotional vulnerability in MBC patients. It emphasised how vulnerable younger MBC women are to post‐traumatic stress, and the importance of the combined effects of cognitive function and social support in buffering against depression. Our results have important implications for developing new interventions and treatment plans that consider the roles of these factors in ensuring a better quality of life in MBC.