Exploring the relationship between the body self and the sense of coherence in women after surgical treatment for breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of the relationship between the body self (BS) and the sense of coherence (SOC) in women after breast surgery due to cancer in comparison with a control group. METHODS: A cross-sectional study in a group of 78 women using the body-self questionnaire (BS-Q), and the life orientation questionnaire (SOC-29). Statistics based on the IBM SPSS v.25. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) has shown significant differences based on groups in experiencing intimacy, manifesting femininity, body acceptance, and manageability. In particular, manifesting femininity and body acceptance showed a big effect size (0.30 < partial ɳ2  < 0.32). Correlation analysis between the BS-Q and SOC-29 subscales and Fisher's r to z transformation determines that the differences between groups were significant in favour of healthy women in two sets of variables: experiencing intimacy/meaningfulness and attitude to food and weight/manageability. CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer survivors are at greater risk of developing decreased body acceptance and problems in intimacy, and have less correlation than the healthy control group between manageability and meaningfulness with an appropriate attitude to food and intimate relationship with their partner, respectively. A higher manifestation of femininity in the treated group can be considered a positive but socioculturally conditioned coping strategy.

Anxiety, depression and quality of life: a longitudinal study involving cancer patient-caregiver dyads.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to analyse the relationships between anxiety, depression and quality of life in cancer patient-caregiver dyads during the first 6 months after the diagnosis using the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM). PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: Sixty-seven cancer patient-caregiver dyads completed the following questionnaires in a prospective longitudinal design, with two assessment points at a 6month interval, T1 (45-60) and T2 (180-200 days after diagnosis): the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36). Descriptive statistics, t-test and bivariate correlations were applied. The APIM was used to analyse the influence of anxiety and depression (T1) on own (actor effect) and partner (partner effect) quality of life in T2. RESULTS: The results did not reveal any differences between T1 and T2 in anxiety and depression in caregivers and patients. Assessing the differences between T1 and T2 with respect to quality of life, the caregiver results showed an improvement in physical functioning and bodily pain, but lower social functioning and mental health scores. For patients, significantly lower scores were observed in general health and vitality scores. Dyadic analysis showed an actor effect of anxiety and depression on most of the quality of life domains and a partner effect in caregiver depression (T1) and general health in patients (T2). CONCLUSIONS: The early assessment of anxiety and depression may help to prevent declines in quality of life in the first few months following a diagnosis of cancer in patient-caregiver dyads.

Emotional Burden and Perceived Social Support in Male Partners of Women with Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the correlations between the psychosocial burden on male caregivers and their perception of social support, as well as distress, anxiety, and depression among their partners in the first six months after a cancer diagnosis. METHODS: A cross-sectional, longitudinal and observational study was conducted on a group of 61 couples, with the use of Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS), Berlín Social Support Scales (BSSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Distress Thermometer (DT). Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica v.13. RESULTS: A strong positive correlation between the ZBI and CBS, as well as between support-seeking and the emotional involvement of male partners, was documented. The negative correlation between the lack of instrumental support and a much greater burden on caregivers, in emotional, social, and family life was documented. The level of distress, anxiety, and depression, as well as family problems reported by female patients, were positively correlated with the male caregiver's burden. A demographic analysis showed significant relationships between the number of offspring and the negative health indicators of patients and their partners. IMPLICATIONS: The obtained results encourage deeper reflection on the need to improve the availability of instrumental support for male caregivers and support for families with an oncological ill parent in caring for minor children, and to maintain the social activity of the caregiver.

Caregiver Burden Domains and Their Relationship with Anxiety and Depression in the First Six Months of Cancer Diagnosis.

Cancer caregiving is associated with burden and a poor psychological state. However, there is no previous information about the predictive utility of specific burden domains on anxiety and depression in the first six months after a partner's cancer diagnosis. In a longitudinal study, 67 caregivers completed the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at T1 (45-60 days after diagnosis) and T2 (180-200 days after diagnosis). Most of the caregivers were female (65.7%, mean age = 51.63, SD = 13.25), while patients were mostly male (56.7%). The TRIPOD checklist was applied. ZBI scores were moderate and HADS anxiety reached significant values. There were no differences in ZBI and HADS between T1 and T2. The relationship between burden, anxiety, and depression were more consistent at T2, while emotional burden at T1 were related and predicted anxiety and depression at T2. Some burden domains were related and predicted anxiety in caregivers in the first six months after partner cancer diagnosis. This information could be useful to prevent the onset of these symptoms in the first six months after diagnosis.

The relationship between surgical treatment (mastectomy vs. breast conserving treatment) and body acceptance, manifesting femininity and experiencing an intimate relation with a partner in breast cancer patients. / Zwiazek leczenia chirurgicznego (mastektomia vs. zabieg oszczedzajacy piers) z akceptacja cielesnosci, eksponowaniem kobiecosci i przezywaniem intymnej relacji z partnerem w grupie kobiet z rakiem piersi.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to verify the following hypotheses: (1) Do women who have undergone surgical treatment for breast cancer differ from healthy women in the way they experience their body (body self)?; (2) Does the surgical technique (mastectomy vs. breast conserving treatment) differentiate the group in terms of experiencing their body after the surgery?; (3) Do demographic variables, BMI, breast size and the evaluation of the scar differentiate the group in terms of experiencing their body self after the surgery? METHODS: In order to gain some insight into how women experience their body after breast surgery, the Body Self Questionnaire designed in 2005 by Beata Mirucka was used. The analysis included data from 50 women who completed surveys. This data were compared to the control group. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics package, version 24, with a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were obtained between the entire group of women after breast surgery (mastectomy and BCT, jointly) and the control group of healthy women in three aspects of the Body Self Questionnaire: body acceptance, manifesting femininity and experiencing an intimate relation with a partner. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of breast cancer is significantly associated with the way patients experience their body, which is expressed in three dimensions of the body self in treated women.

Autotelic vs instrumental motivation of doctors and their medical specialty choice in relation to sense of coherence. / Motywacje autoteliczna vs instrumentalna lekarzy a wybór specjalizacji medycznej na tle poczucia koherencji.

OBJECTIVES: Analysis and comparison of two types of motivation (autotelic and non-autotelic) which are behind the choice of medical specialisation by doctors in relation to their sense of coherence. METHODS: Questionnaire method was used in the study. The study included a group of 86 graduates of the Faculty of Medicine of the Jagiellonian University, who have completed postgraduate internships at the Department of Haematology and Oncology, Department of Gynaecology of the Jagiellonian University and the L. Rydygier hospital in Krakow in 2010-2012. Statistical analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 21. The level of significance was alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: It has been shown that doctors are more frequently characterised by the autotelic type of motivation. It has also been proven that there is a relationship between the male sex of the surveyed doctors and their autotelic type of motivation. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that there is a correlation between the comprehensibility component of the sense of coherence and the male sex. It has been also demonstrated that there is a correlation between meaningfulness component of the sense of coherence and the choice of surgical specialisation. CONCLUSIONS: Autotelic motivation prevails when choosing a medical specialty and this tendency is more noticeable in men than in women. The meaningfulness component of SoC plays a regulatory role in making career decisions related to the greater physical and mental pressure put on doctors. The observed differences in the types of motivation and the size of the components of the sense of coherence in groups of surveyed doctors - men and women - encourage further observations of these relationships on a larger population.