Worry and Mindfulness Differentially Impact Symptom Burden Following Treatment Among Breast Cancer Survivors: Findings From a Randomized Crossover Trial

Overview

Journal Ann Behav Med

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2023 Jun 19

PMID 37335884

Authors

Megan E Renna

Annelise A Madison

Juan Peng

Marcella Rosie Shrout

Maryam Lustberg

Bhuvaneswari Ramaswamy

Robert Wesolowski

Jeffrey B VanDeusen

Nicole O Williams

Sagar D Sardesai

Anne M Noonan

Raquel E Reinbolt

Daniel G Stover

Mathew Cherian

William B Malarkey

Rebecca Andridge

Janice K Kiecolt-Glaser

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer survivors often experience many somatic and cognitive side effects resulting from their cancer diagnosis and treatment, including higher rates of pain, fatigue, and memory/concentration problems. Emotion regulation offers opportunities to either enhance or dampen physical health.

Purpose: In a secondary analysis of a double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) using a typhoid vaccine to assess factors associated with breast cancer survivors' inflammatory responses, we assessed how two specific aspects of emotion regulation, mindfulness, and worry, corresponded to acute changes in focus problems, memory problems, and fatigue along with performance on pain sensitivity and cognitive tasks across two visits among breast cancer survivors.

Methods: Breast cancer survivors (N = 149) completed two 8.5-hr visits at a clinical research center. Survivors were randomized to either the vaccine/saline placebo or a placebo/vaccine sequence. Worry and mindfulness questionnaires provided data on trait-level emotion regulation abilities. Fatigue, memory problems, and focus difficulties were assessed via Likert scales six times-once before the injections and then every 90 min for 7.5 hr thereafter. Women also completed a pain sensitivity task and several cognitive tasks at each visit.

Results: Findings from this study showed that breast cancer survivors who worried more and were less mindful experienced subjective memory problems, focus problems, and cold pain sensitivity across two visits and irrespective of injection type. Lower mindfulness also corresponded to higher subjective fatigue and hot pain sensitivity and objective ratings. Emotion regulation skills did not predict objective pain sensitivity or cognitive problems.

Conclusion: Results from this study highlight the benefits of adaptive emotion regulation in helping mitigate symptoms associated with breast cancer survivorship.

Citing Articles

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