Optimism and coping with a breast cancer symptom

Area of Science:

• Psychological Oncology
• Health Psychology
• Behavioral Medicine

Background:

• Patient delay and anxiety in seeking care for breast cancer symptoms are significant concerns.
• The role of psychological factors, such as optimism, in healthcare-seeking behaviors needs further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between optimism and delay/anxiety in seeking care for breast cancer symptoms.
• To examine the mediating role of expectations about care seeking and the likelihood of having breast cancer.
• To explore the influence of optimism on these variables.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 135 participants with breast cancer symptoms and no prior cancer history.
• Interviews conducted at a surgery clinic to assess optimism, delay, anxiety, and expectations.
• Statistical analyses to examine associations and potential mediating/confounding effects.

Main Results:

• Optimism was significantly associated with reduced delay and anxiety in care seeking.
• Optimism also correlated with more positive expectations regarding care seeking outcomes.
• The association between optimism and anxiety was no longer significant after controlling for expectations.
• The link between optimism and delay became nonsignificant when adjusting for occupational status.

Conclusions:

• Optimism may impact anxiety related to seeking breast cancer care primarily through shaping situation-specific expectations.
• The influence of optimism on delaying care seeking might be confounded by socioeconomic factors.
• Understanding these psychological and socioeconomic influences is crucial for timely breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.