Cancer-specific self-efficacy and psychosocial and functional adaptation to early stage breast cancer. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Although self-efficacy is considered a key psychological resource in adapting to chronic physical illness, this construct has received less attention among individuals coping with cancer. PURPOSE: To examine changes in cancer self-efficacy over time among women with early stage breast cancer and associations between task-specific domains of self-efficacy and specific psychological, relationship, and functional outcomes. METHODS: Ninety-five women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer completed surveys postsurgery and 1 year later. RESULTS: Cancer-related self-efficacy was relatively stable over 1 year, with only 2 domains of efficacy-(a) Activity Management and (b) Self-Satisfaction-evidencing significant increases over the 1-year time period. Cross-sectional findings were relatively consistent with predictions and suggested that specific domains of self-efficacy were more strongly related to relevant domains of adaptation. Longitudinal findings were not as consistent with the domain-specificity hypothesis but did suggest several predictive associations between self-efficacy and outcomes. Personal Management self-efficacy was associated with higher relationship satisfaction, higher Communication Self-Efficacy was associated with less functional impairment, and higher Affective Management self-efficacy was associated with higher self-esteem 1 year later. CONCLUSIONS: Specific domains of cancer-related self-efficacy are most closely related to relevant areas of adaptation when considered cross-sectionally, but further study is needed to clarify the nature of these relationships over time.

publication date

  • April 1, 2006

Research

keywords

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Personal Satisfaction
  • Self Efficacy
  • Social Support

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 33645504606

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1207/s15324796abm3102_6

PubMed ID

  • 16542129

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 31

issue

  • 2