A prospective longitudinal study investigating neuroticism and mastery as predictors of quality of life among Chinese gynecologic cancer survivors.

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to examine the role of neuroticism and mastery in predicting the quality of life (QOL) among Chinese gynecologic cancer survivors.

METHODS

A total of 184 women participated in this prospective longitudinal study. Participants were to rate their quality of life at baseline (T1) and one year later (T2). Neuroticism as a predictor of QOL was examined by controlling for baseline QOL, sociodemographic, and disease variables using hierarchical linear regression modeling. Mastery as a mediator between the relationship of neuroticism and QOL was also examined.

RESULTS

Bivariate correlations showed that the cancer site, time since diagnosis, neuroticism, and mastery at T1 were related to various aspects of QOL at T1 and T2. After controlling for cancer site, time since diagnosis, QOL at T1, high levels of neuroticism at T1 predicted poor physical and emotional QOL at T2, but mastery at T1 did not mediate the relationship between neuroticism at T1 and QOL at T2.

CONCLUSIONS

Neuroticism is a salient personality variable that predicts poor emotional and physical well-being over time. Gynecologic cancer survivors high on neuroticism should be the target for intervention to reduce negative effects during the course of recovery.