Optimism and coping with a breast cancer symptom

This study was conducted to assess whether optimism was associated with less delay and anxiety in seeking care for breast cancer symptoms, expectations about such care seeking, and the likelihood of having breast cancer. The influence of optimism on delay and anxiety through expectations about care seeking or likelihood of breast cancer was also examined. Participants (N = 135) with breast cancer symptoms and no history of cancer were interviewed at a surgery clinic. Optimism was associated with less delay and anxiety in care seeking and with expectations of desirable outcomes of care seeking. After controlling for expectations about care seeking, the relationship of optimism and anxiety became nonsignificant. Adjusting for differences in occupational status, the relationship of optimism and delay was nonsignificant. Thus, optimism may influence anxiety in care seeking for breast cancer symptoms through situation-specific expectations. The influence of optimism on delay may be confounded with socioeconomic factors.