Learned resourcefulness, quality of life, and depressive symptoms for patients with breast cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationships among learned resourcefulness, quality of life, and depressive symptoms of women with breast cancer. In addition, the direct and indirect effects of learned resourcefulness among disease characteristics and quality of life and depressive symptoms were examined.

DESIGN

Descriptive, correlational, and predictive.

SETTING

Two teaching hospitals in southern Taiwan.

SAMPLE

150 women with breast cancer.

METHODS

Participants completed demographic information concerning disease characteristics and learned resourcefulness via the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression questionnaire and the SF-36 health survey during visits to the outpatient oncology department.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES

Learned resourcefulness, depressive symptoms, and quality of life.

FINDINGS

About 35% of the participants had depressive symptoms. Participants with lower income and those undergoing adjuvant therapy displayed more depressive symptoms. Learned resourcefulness was a strong predictor of depressive symptoms and quality of life, but no mediating effects of resourcefulness on depressive symptoms existed. In addition, when participants had better income and were at a lower stage, a better quality of life was evident.

CONCLUSIONS

A high amount of patients with breast cancer experience depressive symptoms. Learned resourcefulness can be a method of helping patients to improve their self-control behaviors and change their negative thoughts.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Nurses and healthcare professionals can apply resourcefulness strategies to promote quality of life and to prevent depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer.