A Structural Model Explaining the Effect of Cognitive Emotion Regulation on Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Breast Cancer Survivors: The Mediating Roles of Illness Perception and Psychological Well-Being Publisher



Hosseini S¹ ; Salehi M¹ ; Jadidi M² ; Aghili M³ Show Affiliations
Source: Archives of Breast Cancer Published:2023

Abstract

Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in cancer patients, including those with breast cancer is a special and highly conscious experience affecting emotional, cognitive and behavioral domains. This study examines the effect of cognitive emotion regulation on FCR with the mediation of illness perception and psychological well-being in breast cancer survivors in a structural model. Methods: The population of this study included all women with breast cancer who were referred to Cancer Institute for their regular checkups in 2022. Overall, 300 patients were recruited based on convenience sampling. They completed the validated questionnaires online for FCR, cognitive emotion regulation, illness perception and psychological well-being. The proposed model was evaluated using structural equation modeling. Results: The findings indicated the model did fit the data. In addition to the direct effect of adaptive and maladaptive strategies of cognitive emotion regulation on FCR, the indirect effect of adaptive strategies on FCR through psychological well-being (β=0.148, p=0.001) and illness perception (β=0.233, p=0.001) was negative and significant. Furthermore, the indirect effect of maladaptive strategies on FCR through psychological well-being (β=0.109, p=0.001) and illness perception (β=0.212, p=0.001) was positive and significant. Therefore, psychological well-being and illness perception negatively and significantly mediated the effect of adaptive strategies on FCR and positively and significantly mediated the effect of maladaptive strategies on FCR. Conclusion: Patients who possessed adaptive strategies of cognitive emotion regulation, less-threatening perception of illness and higher psychological well-being were exposed less to FCR. Psychological interventions for strengthening these factors in breast cancer survivors are suggested. © 2023 Emotion regulation of FCR. All rights reserved.