Changes over time in self-efficacy to cope with cancer and well-being in women with breast cancer: a cross-cultural study

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to examine whether self-efficacy to cope with cancer changes over time in patients with breast cancer and whether these potential changes are similar across patients. It also aimed to examine whether these trajectories are related to patient psychological well-being and overall quality of life.

Methods

Participants (N = 404) from four countries (i.e. Finland, Israel, Italy, and Portugal) were enrolled in the study few weeks after breast surgery or biopsy. Self-efficacy to cope with cancer was assessed at baseline, six and 12 months later. Well-being indices were assessed at baseline, 12 and 18 months later.

Results

Using Latent Class Growth Analysis, two groups of patients were identified. The majority of patients reported high levels of self-efficacy to cope, which increased over time. For almost 15% of the patients, however, self-efficacy declined over time. Diminishing levels of self-efficacy to cope predicted worse levels of well-being. The pattern of self-efficacy changes and their relationships to well-being was consistent across countries.

Conclusion

Monitoring self-efficacy to cope with cancer is probably important in order to detect alarming changes in its levels, as a declining self-efficacy to cope may serve as a signal of the need for intervention to prevent adaptation difficulties.

Keywords:

• Breast cancer
• self-efficacy to cope with cancer
• adaptation to cancer
• trajectories across time
• illness perceptions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethics approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study was approved by the ethical committee of the European Institute of Oncology (Approval No R868/18‐IEO916) and the ethical committees of the participating hospitals.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy and ethical restrictions.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 777167.