The relationship between psychological capital and quality of life among patients with breast cancer

Abstract

 

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women, seriously affecting their lives. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between psychological capital and quality of life among women with breast cancer.
Methods: The study was descriptive cross-sectional with a correlational design. The statistical population of the study included all women with breast cancer referring to Seyedoshohada Hospital, Isfahan for treatment, out of whom 97 women were randomly selected. The respondents provided their demographic information and filled out cancer patient Quality of life Questionnaire (EORTCQLQ- C30.V.3), Life Orientation Test (LOT), Snyder Hope Scale, Block & Kremen Resiliency Scale, Sherer et al. General Self-Efficacy Scale (SGSE).
Results: The average age of the participants was 45.17±9.55. The mean of the patients’ hopefulness, 20.15±4.50, optimism 20.31±4.30, resilience 45.92±9.11, self-efficacy 55.51±12.59 and quality of life were 63.74±19.20, respectively. The results indicated that there is a statistically significant relationship between the quality of life and the components of psychological capital including hope (r=.45, p<.01), optimism (r=.25, p<.01), resilience(r=.40, p<.01), and self-efficacy(r=.27, p<.01). The findings revealed that hope, optimism, self-efficacy, and resilience lead to higher quality of life among women with breast cancer.
Conclusion: The findings have important implications in medical interventions aiming to enhance the quality of life among these patients. Therefore, in assessment and treatment of patients with breast cancer, more attention should be paid to psychological factors related to quality of life along with conventional biomedical treatments.