BACKGROUND

Trait emotional intelligence and fear of cancer recurrence could predict quality of life, but the mechanism between the three is poorly understood.

METHODS

The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between trait emotional intelligence, fear of cancer recurrence and quality of life in patients with breast cancer. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 215 breast cancer patients recruited from two hospitals in China. Data were collected from December 2018 to April 2019. Questionnaires measured demographic and medical characteristics, trait emotional intelligence, fear of cancer recurrence and quality of life. Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modelling were conducted to analyse the data.

RESULTS

As expected, trait emotional intelligence was positively related to quality of life and negatively correlated with fear of cancer recurrence. Fear of cancer recurrence was negatively associated with quality of life. This relationship between trait emotional intelligence and quality of life was mediated by fear of cancer recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

These results shed light on underlying mechanisms by which trait emotional intelligence affects quality of life. Trait emotional intelligence training could reduce fear of cancer recurrence to improve quality of life for cancer patients.