Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Psychometric properties and correlates of a brief scale measuring the psychological construct mattering to others in a sample of women recovering from breast cancer

  • Published:
Quality of Life Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Mattering to others, or perceiving one is a significant part of the social world, may be important to breast cancer survivors’ quality of life. This study examines the reliability and validity of the 5-item general mattering scale (GMS) to assess mattering in breast cancer survivors.

Methods

A secondary analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed on data from an intervention study with breast cancer survivors that included the GMS and other psychological measures.

Results

The unidimensional representation of the GMS was consistent with the data (χ2 = 8.102; df = 4; p = .088). The scale was highly reliable as indicated by McDonald’s omega of .84. The scale was significantly correlated with all psychological measures in the predicted direction except anxiety. After controlling for social support, the scale was significantly, positively correlated with functional quality of life, self-esteem, positive affect, and having meaning in life. Mattering was significantly, negatively correlated with searching for meaning. Significantly higher level of mattering was found among married participants and among women who had not obtained psychological therapy.

Conclusions

The 5-item GMS is a practical, reliable, and valid tool the measuring mattering to others among breast cancer survivors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. American Cancer Society. (2017). Cancer facts & Figs. 2017. Atlanta, GA. Retrieved December 24, 2017, from https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2017/cancer-facts-and-figures-2017.pdf.

  2. Cho, D., Chu, Q., & Lu, Q. (2018). Associations among physical symptoms, fear of cancer recurrence, and emotional well-being among Chinese American breast cancer survivors: A path model. Supportive Care in Cancer, 26(6), 1755–1761. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-4010-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Mosher, C. E., & DuHamel, K. N. (2012). An examination of distress, sleep, and fatigue in metastatic breast cancer patients. Psycho-Oncology, 21(1), 100–107. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1873.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Montazeri, A. (2008). Health-related quality of life in breast cancer patients: A bibliographic review of the literature from 1974 to 2007. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, 27(1), 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-9966-27-32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Zabora, J., BrintzenhofeSzoc, K., Curbow, B., Hooker, C., & Piantadosi, S. (2001). The prevalence of psychological distress by cancer site. Psycho-Oncology, 10(1), 19–28. https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-1611(200101/02)10:1%3C19::AID-PON501%3E3.0.CO;2-6

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Massie, M. J. (2004). Prevalence of depression in patients with cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs, 2004(32), 57–71. https://doi.org/10.1093/jncimonographs/lgh014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Schmidt, M. E., Chang-Claude, J., Vrieling, A., Heinz, J., Flesch-Janys, D., & Steindorf, K. (2012). Fatigue and quality of life in breast cancer survivors: temporal courses and long-term pattern. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 6(1), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-011-0197-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Yi, J. C., & Syrjala, K. L. (2017). Anxiety and depression in cancer survivors. The Medical Clinics of North America, 101(6), 1099–1113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2017.06.005.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Luutonen, S., Sintonen, H., Stormi, T., & Salminen, E. (2014). Health-related quality of life during adjuvant radiotherapy in breast cancer. Quality of Life Research, 23(4), 1363–1369. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-013-0554-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Salander, P., Lilliehorn, S., Hamberg, K., & Kero, A. (2011). The impact of breast cancer on living an everyday life 4.5–5 years post-diagnosis—a qualitative prospective study of 39 women. Acta Oncologica, 50(3), 399–407. https://doi.org/10.3109/0284186X.2010.547216.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kernan, W. D., & Lepore, S. J. (2009). Searching for and making meaning after breast cancer: Prevalence, patterns, and negative affect. Social Science & Medicine, 68(6), 1176–1182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Winger, J. G., Adams, R. N., & Mosher, C. E. (2016). Relations of meaning in life and sense of coherence to distress in cancer patients: A meta-analysis. Psycho-Oncology, 25(1), 2–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3798.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Moadel, A., Morgan, C., Fatone, A., Grennan, J., Carter, J., Laruffa, G., & Dutcher, J. (1999). Seeking meaning and hope: Self-reported spiritual and existential needs among an ethnically-diverse cancer patient population. Psycho-Oncology, 8(5), 378–385. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1611(199909/10)8:5%3C378::AID-PON406%3E3.0.CO;2-A

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kolokotroni, P., Anagnostopoulos, F., & Tsikkinis, A. (2014). Psychosocial factors related to posttraumatic growth in breast cancer survivors: A review. Women & Health, 54(6), 569–592. https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2014.899543.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Cohee, A. A., Stump, T., Adams, R. N., Johns, S. A., Von Ah, D., Zoppi, K., & Champion, V. L. (2016). Factors associated with depressive symptoms in young long-term breast cancer survivors. Quality of Life Research, 25(8), 1991–1997. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-016-1241-6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Lu, Q., You, J., Man, J., Loh, A., & Young, L. (2014). Evaluating a culturally tailored peer-mentoring and education pilot intervention among Chinese breast cancer survivors using a mixed-methods approach. Oncology Nursing Forum, 41(6), 629–637. https://doi.org/10.1188/14.ONF.629-637.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Cordella, M., & Poiana, A. (2014). Behavioural oncology: Psychological, communicative, and social dimensions. New York: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9605-2_5%23citeas.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  18. Beasley, J. M., Newcomb, P. A., Trentham-Dietz, A., Hampton, J. M., Ceballos, R. M., Titus-Ernstoff, L., & Holmes, M. D. (2010). Social networks and survival after breast cancer diagnosis. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 4(4), 372–380. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-010-0139-5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Huber, J., Muck, T., Maatz, P., Keck, B., Enders, P., Maatouk, I., & Ihrig, A. (2018). Face-to-face vs. online peer support groups for prostate cancer: A cross-sectional comparison study. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 12(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-017-0633-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Rosenberg, M., & McCullough, B. C. (1979). Mattering: Inferred significance and mental health among adolescents. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association. Boston.

  21. Elliott, G. C., Kao, S., & Grant, A.-M. (2004). Mattering: Empirical validation of a social-psychological concept. Self and Identity, 3(4), 339–354. https://doi.org/10.1080/13576500444000119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Schieman, S., & Taylor, J. (2001). Statuses, roles, and the sense of mattering. Sociological Perspectives, 44(4), 469–484. https://doi.org/10.1525/sop.2001.44.4.469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Taylor, J., & Turner, R. J. (2001). A longitudinal study of the role and significance of mattering to others for depressive symptoms. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 42(3), 310. https://doi.org/10.2307/3090217.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Elliott, G. C., Colangelo, M. F., & Gelles, R. J. (2005). Mattering and suicide ideation: Establishing and elaborating a relationship. Social Psychology Quarterly, 68(3), 223–238. https://doi.org/10.1177/019027250506800303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Marshall, S. K. (2001). Do I matter? Construct validation of adolescents’ perceived mattering to parents and friends. Journal of Adolescence, 24(4), 473–490. https://doi.org/10.1006/jado.2001.0384.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Rayle, A. D. (2005). Adolescent gender differences in mattering and wellness. Journal of Adolescence, 28(6), 753–763. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ADOLESCENCE.2004.10.009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Pistrang, N., Jay, Z., Gessler, S., & Barker, C. (2013). Telephone peer support for women with gynaecological cancer: Benefits and challenges for supporters. Psycho-Oncology, 22(4), 886–894. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3080.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Feuerstein, M. (2007). Handbook of cancer survivorship. Boston: Springer US.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  29. Marcus, F. M. (1991). Mattering: Its measurement and theoretical significance for social psychology. In Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Sociological Association. Cincinnati, OH.

  30. Connolly, K. M., & Myers, J. E. (2003). Wellness and mattering: The role of holistic factors in job satisfaction. Journal of Employment Counseling, 40(4), 152–160. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1920.2003.tb00866.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. DeForge, B. R., & Barclay, D. M. (1997). The internal reliability of a general mattering scale in homeless men. Psychological Reports, 80(2), 429–430. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1997.80.2.429.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Joiner, T. E., Van Orden, K. A., Witte, T. K., Selby, E. A., Ribeiro, J. D., Lewis, R., & Rudd, M. D. (2009). Main predictions of the interpersonal–psychological theory of suicidal behavior: Empirical tests in two samples of young adults. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 118(3), 634–646. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016500.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Gibson, D. M., & Myers, J. E. (2006). Perceived stress, wellness, and mattering: A profile of first-year citadel cadets. Journal of College Student Development, 47(6), 647–660. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2006.0065.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Park, C. L., Zlateva, I., & Blank, T. O. (2009). Self-identity after cancer: “survivor”, “victim”, “patient”, and “person with cancer.” Journal of General Internal Medicine, 24(S2), 430–435. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-009-0993-x. “victim”.

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Koutrouli, N., Anagnostopoulos, F., & Potamianos, G. (2012). Posttraumatic stress disorder and posttraumatic growth in breast cancer patients: A systematic review. Women & Health, 52(5), 503–516. https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2012.679337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Morris, B. A., Lepore, S. J., Wilson, B., Lieberman, M. A., Dunn, J., & Chambers, S. K. (2014). Adopting a survivor identity after cancer in a peer support context. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 8(3), 427–436. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-014-0355-5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Milner, A., Page, K. M., & LaMontagne, A. D. (2016). Perception of mattering and suicide ideation in the australian working population: Evidence from a cross-sectional survey. Community Mental Health Journal, 52(5), 615–621. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016-0002-x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Bloom, J. R., Stewart, S. L., Johnston, M., Banks, P., & Fobair, P. (2001). Sources of support and the physical and mental well-being of young women with breast cancer. Social Science & Medicine, 53(11), 1513–1524.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Kamen, C., Mustian, K. M., Heckler, C., Janelsins, M. C., Peppone, L. J., Mohile, S., & Morrow, G. R. (2015). The association between partner support and psychological distress among prostate cancer survivors in a nationwide study. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 9(3), 492–499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-015-0425-3.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Mols, F., Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M., Coebergh, J. W., & van de Poll-Franse, L. V. (2005). Quality of life among long-term breast cancer survivors: A systematic review. European Journal of Cancer, 41(17), 2613–2619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2005.05.017.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Durá-Ferrandis, E., Mandelblatt, J. S., Clapp, J., Luta, G., Faul, L., Kimmick, G., & Hurria, A. (2017). Personality, coping, and social support as predictors of long-term quality-of-life trajectories in older breast cancer survivors: CALGB protocol 369901 (Alliance). Psycho-Oncology, 26(11), 1914–1921. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4404.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Leung, J., Pachana, N. A., & McLaughlin, D. (2014). Social support and health-related quality of life in women with breast cancer: A longitudinal study. Psycho-Oncology, 23(9), 1014–1020. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3523.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Lepore, S. J., Buzaglo, J. S., Lieberman, M. A., Golant, M., Greener, J. R., & Davey, A. (2014). Comparing standard versus prosocial internet support groups for patients with breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial of the helper therapy principle. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 32(36), 4081–4086. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2014.57.0093.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Zigmond, A. S., & Snaith, R. P. (1983). The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 67(6), 361–370.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Cutrona, C. E., & Russell, D. W. (1983). The provisions of social relationships and adaptation to stess. Advances in Personal Relationships, 1(1), 37–67.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Dukes, K., & Holahan, C. K. (2003). The relation of social support and coping to positive adaptation to breast cancer. Psychology and Health, 18(1), 15–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/0887044031000080656.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(6), 1063–1070.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Crawford, J. R., & Henry, J. D. (2004). The positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS): Construct validity, measurement properties and normative data in a large non-clinical sample. The British Journal of Clinical Psychology/The British Psychological Society, 43(Pt 3), 245–265. https://doi.org/10.1348/0144665031752934.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Ganz, P. A., Desmond, K. A., Leedham, B., Rowland, J. H., Meyerowitz, B. E., & Belin, T. R. (2002). Quality of life in long-term, disease-free survivors of breast cancer: A follow-up study. CancerSpectrum Knowledge Environment, 94(1), 39–49. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/94.1.39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  51. Lepore, S. J., Glaser, D. B., & Roberts, K. J. (2008). On the positive relation between received social support and negative affect: A test of the triage and self-esteem threat models in women with breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 17(12), 1210–1215. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1347.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Brady, M. J., Cella, D. F., Mo, F., Bonomi, A. E., Tulsky, D. S., Lloyd, S. R., … Shiomoto, G. (1997). Reliability and validity of the functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast quality-of-life instrument. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 15(3), 974–986. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.1997.15.3.974.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Holzner, B., Kemmler, G., Kopp, M., Moschen, R., Schweigkofler, Rd, Du Nser, H., & Sperner-Unterweger, B. (2001). Quality of life in breast cancer patients—not enough attention for long-term survivors? Psychosomatics, 42(2), 117–123. https://doi.org/10.1176/APPI.PSY.42.2.117.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006). The meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Schlegel, R. J., Manning, M. A., & Bettencourt, B. A. (2013). Expectancy violations and the search for meaning among breast cancer survivors. The Journal of Positive Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2013.807354.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  56. Watson, M., Haviland, J., Greer, S., Davidson, J., & Bliss, J. (1999). Influence of psychological response on survival in breast cancer: A population-based cohort study. The Lancet, 354(9187), 1331–1336. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(98)11392-2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. IBM Corp. (2017). IBM SPSS statistics for windows. 2017. Armonk: IBM Corp.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (2010). Mplus user’s guide. Statistical analysis with latent variables user’s guide. Los Angeles: Muthén & Muthén.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Dumenci, L. (2000). Multitrait-multimethod analysis. In E. A. H. Tinsley & S. Brown (Eds.) (Ed.), Handbook of applied multivariate statistics and mathematical modeling (pp. 583–611). San Diego: Academic Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  60. Brown, T. A. (2015). Confirmatory factor analysis for applied research. New York: Guildford.

    Google Scholar 

  61. McDonald, R. (1999). Test theory: A unified treatment (1st Ed.). London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781410601087.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  62. Dunn, T. J., Baguley, T., & Brunsden, V. (2014). From alpha to omega: A practical solution to the pervasive problem of internal consistency estimation. British Journal of Psychology, 105(3), 399–412. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12046.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Lin, Y.-C., Strong, C., Tsai, M.-C., Lin, C.-Y., & Fung, X. C. C. (2018). Validating sizing them up: A parent-proxy weight-related quality-of-life measure, with community-based children. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 18(1), 81–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2017.10.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd Ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Retrieved from http://www.utstat.toronto.edu/~brunner/oldclass/378f16/readings/CohenPower.pdf.

  65. O’Connor, A. P., Wicker, C. A., & Germino, B. B. (1990). Understanding the cancer patient’s search for meaning. Cancer Nursing, 13(3), 167–175.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Lester, J. L., Wessels, A. L., & Jung, Y. (2014). Oncology nurses’ knowledge of survivorship care planning: The need for education. Oncology Nursing Forum, 41(2), E35–E43. https://doi.org/10.1188/14.ONF.E35-E43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by NIH Grant R21CA15881 (SJL).

Funding

This study was partially funded by NIH Grant R21CA15887.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, College of Public Health, Temple University, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, 974 Ritter Annex, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA

    Samantha M. Davis

  2. Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, College of Public Health, Temple University, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, 957 Ritter Annex, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA

    Stephen J. Lepore

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Temple University, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, 939 Ritter Annex, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA

    Levent Dumenci

Authors
  1. Samantha M. Davis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stephen J. Lepore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Levent Dumenci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Samantha M. Davis.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Samantha Davis declares that she has no conflict of interest. Stephen Lepore received funding to support the study, NIH Grant R21CA15887.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Davis, S.M., Lepore, S.J. & Dumenci, L. Psychometric properties and correlates of a brief scale measuring the psychological construct mattering to others in a sample of women recovering from breast cancer. Qual Life Res 28, 1605–1614 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-019-02118-8

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-019-02118-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation