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The effects of age and emotional acceptance on distress among breast cancer patients

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Abstract

Objectives

This study examined whether emotional acceptance moderates the relationship between age and distress among breast cancer patients near the end of the first year after diagnosis.

Materials and method

The Emotional acceptance scale and the Profile of Mood States scale were completed by 79 women with Stage II or III breast cancer.

Results

Results showed that younger women reported greater distress than older women. Those who were less accepting of their emotions also reported greater distress than those who were more accepting, regardless of age.

Discussion

These results suggest that emotional acceptance may be beneficial for both younger and older women facing breast cancer. Additional implications of these findings are discussed.

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Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, grant K20 MH00906, to Karen Weihs M.D.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Internship Training, Brown Medical School, Providence, RI, USA

    Mary C. Politi

  2. Department of Psychology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Mary C. Politi

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Timothy M. Enright & Karen L. Weihs

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona Medical Center, AZ, USA

    Karen L. Weihs

  5. Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA

    Karen L. Weihs

  6. Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Coro Building, Suite 500, One Hoppin Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA

    Mary C. Politi

Authors
  1. Mary C. Politi
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  2. Timothy M. Enright
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  3. Karen L. Weihs
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mary C. Politi.

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Politi, M.C., Enright, T.M. & Weihs, K.L. The effects of age and emotional acceptance on distress among breast cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 15, 73–79 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0098-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0098-6

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