The current study aimed to examine the fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) trajectory and protective predictors in women coping with breast cancer (BC). The study’s model investigated whether a higher coping self-efficacy and positive cognitive–emotion regulation at the time of the BC diagnosis would lead to reduced levels of FCR at six months and in later stages (12 and 18 months) post-diagnosis. The sample included 494 women with stages I to III BC from Finland, Italy, Portugal, and Israel. They completed self-report questionnaires, including the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI-SF), the Cancer Behavior Inventory-Brief Version (CBI-B), the Cognitive–Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ short), and medical–social–demographic data. Findings revealed that a higher coping self-efficacy at diagnosis predicted lower FCR levels after six months but did not impact the FCR trajectory over time. Surprisingly, positive cognitive–emotion regulation did not predict FCR levels or changes over 18 months. FCR levels remained stable from six to 18 months post-diagnosis. This study emphasizes the importance of developing specific cancer coping skills, such as coping self-efficacy. Enhancing coping self-efficacy in the first six months after BC diagnosis may lead to lower FCR levels later, as FCR tends to persist in the following year.
本研究旨在探讨乳腺癌患者对癌症复发恐惧的演变轨迹及其保护性预测因素。研究模型检验了在乳腺癌确诊时较高的应对自我效能和积极的认知情绪调节，是否会导致确诊后六个月及后续阶段（12个月和18个月）的癌症复发恐惧水平降低。研究样本包括来自芬兰、意大利、葡萄牙和以色列的494名I至III期乳腺癌女性患者。参与者完成了自我报告问卷，包括癌症复发恐惧量表简版、癌症行为量表简版、认知情绪调节问卷简版以及医疗-社会-人口统计学数据。研究结果显示，确诊时较高的应对自我效能可预测六个月后较低的癌症复发恐惧水平，但并未影响癌症复发恐惧随时间的演变轨迹。出乎意料的是，积极的认知情绪调节未能预测18个月内癌症复发恐惧的水平或变化。确诊后6至18个月期间，癌症复发恐惧水平保持稳定。本研究强调了培养特定癌症应对技能（如应对自我效能）的重要性。在乳腺癌确诊后的前六个月内提升应对自我效能，可能有助于降低后续的癌症复发恐惧水平，因为癌症复发恐惧往往在确诊后一年内持续存在。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家