Dispositional optimism and qualaity of life in women wih breast cancer

• Main Authors: Sílvia Pastells Pujol, Antoni Font Guiteras
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidad Complutense de Madrid 2014-06-01
• Series: Psicooncologia
• Subjects: Cáncer de mama; optimismo disposicional; pesimismo disposicional; calidad de vida.
• Online Access: http://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/PSIC/article/view/44914

Objective: To assess the relationship between dispositional optimism and quality of life in a sample of women with breast cancer. Our purpose is to know which aspects of quality of life are influenced by dispositional optimism and which are not, to improve the understanding of optimism and improve it when it’s necessary for the adaptation to the medical situation.<br /> Method: 50 women with breast cancer answered individually quality of life and dispositional optimism measures. <br />Results: Dispositional optimism is significantly related to many aspects of quality of life. Women with breast cancer with high dispositional optimistic feel less anger, less pain, have less difficulties in their movements, feel less tiredness, sleep better, go on with theirs home tasks, feel more illusion and less fear. But in some aspects, like social function or fatigue, it seems more important not being pessimist than being optimistic. <br />Conclusion: In congruence with previous reports, dispositional optimism is a predictor of quality of life preservation in women with breast cancer.