The effects of hope and type C personality on social relational quality and acceptance of disability among breast cancer survivors: mediating role of medical coping style

Objective: Previous studies have shown that the hope of breast cancer survivors is related to the social relational quality, and personality is related to acceptance of disability. However, research is still limited about the underlying potential psychological mechanisms of various psycho-social factors for this population. This study aims to investigate the impact of breast cancer survivors' hope and type C personality on social relational quality and acceptance of disability, and to evaluate the mediating effect of medical coping styles.Methods: A total of 150 breast cancer survivors during chemotherapy were recruited from Harbin, China completed a self-reported questionnaire containing the personal information questionnaire, Herth hope index (HHI), Type C behavior scale, Medical coping modes questionnaire (MCMQ), Social relationship quality scale (SRQS) and acceptance of disability scale (ADS). Results: Results showed that the proposed model fitted the data very well (c2=8.357, df=7, p=0.302, c2/df=1.194, GFI=0.981, CFI=0.991, TLI=0.982, RMSEA=0.037). Further analyses revealed that, Confrontation mediated the relationship between hope and social relationship quality (indirect effect=0.034, BC 95%CI=0.001~0.106), and acceptance-Resignation mediated the relationship between type C personality and acceptance of disability (indirect effect=-0.379, BC 95%CI=-0.637~-0.145).Conclusions: Confrontation and acceptance-Resignation played critical roles in the relationship between hope, type C personality and social relational quality, the acceptance of disability. Healthcare practitioners should be aware of the coping strategies of breast cancer survivors, and psycho-social interventions and supportive care should focus on these cognitive and emotional processes to improve social relational quality and acceptance of disability for this population.

The Relationship between Alexithymia and Types C and D Personalities in People with Depression Disorders

Background and Aim: Patients with depression disorders impose annually huge costs on their families and society. With a meticulous glance to the literature, lack of sufficient studies regarding Alexithymia and Types C and D Personalities are obvious. Thus, the aim of current study is investigation the relationship of Alexithymia with Types C and D Personalities in depressed individuals. Materials and Method: Current study through descriptive-correlation analysis examines the relationship between the mentioned variables on a sample of 150 patients. This sample was selected via simple random sampling method among all the depressed people in city of Tehran (as the statistical population) who in years 2012-2013 had visited treatment and diagnostic centers. The sample patients were asked to answer Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) (1974), Denollet Type D Personality Questionnaire (1998), Torento-Alexithymia Scale 20 (TAS-20) (Bagby, Parker & Taylor, 1994). The obtained data were analyzed using bivariate regression analysis and Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results: Findings demonstrated significant relationship between Alexithymia and Type C personality, but there was not significant relationship between Alexithymia and D personality type. In addition, there was no significant difference in terms of personality types between two genders, but women acquired higher score in Alexithymia and Type C personality than men. Conclusion: With respect to research results, close relationship between mood and personality was noticed and women had high vulnerability comparing to men. On this basis, it is necessary for clinicians to implement specific therapy measures to decrease Alexithymia in women.