Illness perception and sense of well-being in breast cancer patients

The objective of the study was to explore breast cancer patients' illness perception, its relationship to perceived sense of well-being, and the role of perceived social support.

Women with diagnosed breast cancer were recruited from the two university hospitals in South Korea between January and April 2018. The questionnaires included the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Breast cancer (FACT-B). A total of 321 participants' data was analyzed using descriptive analyses, multiple regression, and structural equation modeling.

Negative illness perception was greater in participants currently receiving chemotherapy (p=0.044) or had received chemotherapy in the past (p=0.006). Positive illness perception was lower in older participants (p=0.001) or those who had received chemotherapy (p=0.018). Negative illness perception had a direct effect on a low sense of well-being (p<0.001). Perceived social support had a significant mediation effect on the relationship between negative/positive illness perception and sense of well-being (p<0.001).

Significant relationships between illness perception and sense of well-being were observed in breast cancer patients. Strengthening patients' perceived social support would be helpful in improving their sense of well-being.