The Interplay Between Trait Resilience and Coping Self-efficacy in Patients with Breast Cancer: An International Study

J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2023 Mar;30(1):119-128. doi: 10.1007/s10880-022-09872-x. Epub 2022 Apr 30.

Abstract

The role of self-efficacy to cope with breast cancer as a mediator and/or moderator in the relationship of trait resilience to quality of life and psychological symptoms was examined in this study. Data from the BOUNCE Project ( https://www.bounce-project.eu/ ) were used. Women diagnosed with and in treatment for breast cancer (N = 484), from four countries, participated in the study. Trait resilience and coping self-efficacy were assessed at baseline (soon after the beginning of systemic treatment), and outcomes (quality of life, psychological symptoms) 3 months later. Hierarchical regression, mediation, moderation, and conditional (moderated) mediation and moderation analyses were performed to examine the study hypotheses. Coping self-efficacy mediated the impact of trait resilience. In addition, higher levels of resilience in combination with higher levels of coping self-efficacy were associated with better outcomes. Country of origin had no impact on these results. Overall, it seems that coping self-efficacy is a key factor that should be taken into account for research and intervention efforts in cancer.

Keywords: BOUNCE project; Breast cancer; Coping self-efficacy; Cultural differences; Resilience.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Breast Neoplasms* / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life / psychology
  • Resilience, Psychological*
  • Self Efficacy