RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FEAR OF RECURRENCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER: THE PREDICTIVE ROLE OF CAUSAL CANCER ATTRIBUTIONS

Fear of disease recurrence and decrease in the mental health of patients with breast cancer is one of the major concerns of patients that causes psychological distress and reduces the quality of life in patients. Therefore, determining factors that cause fear of recurrence in patients and reduce their well-being is crucial to improve their quality of life. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the predictive role of causal cancer attributions in the relationship between the fear of cancer recurrence and psychological well-being in women with breast cancer.

The research method was correlational and the statistical population included all patients with breast cancer referred to specialized hospitals and clinics in Gorgan. They were selected and tested using the Vickberg Cancer Recurrence Fear Scale (2003), a researcher-made questionnaire of Causal Cancer Attributions and a short version of the Ryff Psychological Well-being Scale (1989). Then data were analyzed using correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis.

The results showed a positive relationship between the subscales of personal factors, lifestyle, and environmental causal cancer attributions with fear of cancer recurrence and also there was a negative relationship between the subscales of spiritual/religious factors with fear of cancer recurrence. The results also showed that there is a negative relationship between the subscales of personal factors, lifestyle, and environmental with the psychological well-being of patients but there is a positive relationship between spiritual/religious factors subscale with patients' psychological well-being.

According to the results of this study and the role of causal cancer attributions in fear of recurrence and psychological well-being, encouraging patients to change their lifestyle, physical activity, and strengthening spiritual and religious practices can help them to improve their quality of life.