Graduation Year

2014

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Department

Psychology

Degree Granting Department

Psychology

Major Professor

Paul B. Jacobsen, Ph.D.

Committee Member

David Drobes, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Jamie L. Goldenberg, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Brent J. Small, Ph.D.

Committee Member

J. Kevin Thompson, Ph.D.

Keywords

cognitive-behavioral, distress, growth mixture modeling, health anxiety, psycho-oncology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in breast cancer survivors returning for regularly scheduled follow-up mammograms. FCR was hypothesized to increase prior to the mammogram, decrease from immediately pre- to immediately post-mammogram, and then increase following the mammogram. Based on the cognitive-behavioral model (CBM) of health anxiety, greater perceived risk of recurrence, worse perceived consequences of a recurrence, lower coping self-efficacy, and more engagement in reassurance-seeking behaviors were hypothesized to be associated with greater FCR in each time segment. Finally, exploratory analyses evaluated the various trajectories in FCR over time using growth mixture modeling and the CBM to predict class membership. The sample comprised 161 women who completed treatment for stage 0-IIIA breast cancer between 6 and 36 months previously. Participants completed the following measures at least 31 days prior to the scheduled mammogram: perceived risk and perceived consequences of breast cancer recurrence, treatment efficacy beliefs, coping self-efficacy, and reassurance seeking behaviors. Participants reported FCR at one month, one week, and immediately prior to the mammogram as well as one month, one week, and immediately after the mammogram using visual analogue scales (VAS) to rate anxiety and worry about cancer recurrence, the Cancer Worry Scale (CWS), and the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI). State anxiety and reassurance post-mammogram were also assessed. FCR significantly changed over time with increases in CWS scores prior to the mammogram, a significant decline on the VAS observed immediately following receipt of results, and a significant increase on the VAS, and decrease in reassurance during the month following the mammogram. The CBM did not significantly predict change in FCR over time, but certain variables did predict fluctuations including coping-self efficacy and perceived risk in the expected directions. Finally, growth mixture models revealed two classes, high-FCR and low-FCR, which were predicted by the CBM. These study findings support the use of the CBM in predicting which cancer survivors experience greater FCR and indicates that CBM-driven interventions may prove beneficial for reducing distressing FCR.

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