Related Experiment Videos
Identifying how and for whom cognitive-behavioral stress management improves emotional well-being among recent
Lara Traeger1, Frank J Penedo, Catherine Benedict
1Behavioral Medicine Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Bowdoin Square, Boston, MA 02114, USA. ltraeger@partners.org
Objective:
The outcomes of a 10-week cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) group intervention were evaluated in prostate cancer survivors. A model was tested in which CBSM-related improvements in emotional well-being were attained through changes in men's perceptions of their condition, as conceptualized by information processing explanations of self-regulation theory. The model also tested whether life stress and treatment-related side effects moderated intervention effects.
Methods:
Men treated for localized prostate cancer (n = 257) within the past 18 months were randomized to CBSM or a half-day psycho-educational seminar. At pre-intervention and 12-week follow-up, emotional well-being, illness perceptions, life stress, and sexual and urinary function were assessed using validated questionnaires.
Results:
After controlling for covariates, CBSM participants showed greater improvements in emotional well-being relative to control participants (β = 0.13, p < 0.05). For men reporting higher stress upon study entry, CBSM-related improvements were partially explained by changes in some, but not all, illness perceptions. Sexual and urinary dysfunction did not influence CBSM-related gains.
Conclusions:
Prostate cancer perceptions may be an important target for enhancing emotional well-being, particularly for men experiencing general life stress. However, interventions that explicitly target mental representations of cancer may be needed to modify perceptions of the disease.
Related Concept Videos
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques I
Conscientiousness
Conscientious individuals tend to be organized, responsible, and disciplined. They prioritize completing tasks and following structured routines,...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
Psychological Responses to Stress
Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques III
The Role of Exercise in Stress Management
Regular physical activity is essential for reducing stress and promoting cardiovascular health. Exercise strengthens the heart, enhances blood flow, keeps blood vessels flexible, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the body's stress response. Research shows that adults who exercise regularly have nearly half the risk...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques V