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Attribution of Blame, Self-forgiving Attitude and Psychological Adjustment in Women with Breast Cancer

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among self-blame for developing breast cancer, a self-forgiving attitude, mood, and quality of life among women with breast cancer. In this cross-sectional study, 123 women with Stages 0–III breast cancer completed questionnaires measuring demographic and medical characteristics, self-blame, self-forgiveness, mood, and quality of life. Women who blamed themselves reported more mood disturbance (p ≤ .001) and poorer quality of life (p < .001) than those who did not blame themselves. Mediational analyses revealed that self-blame for cancer partially mediated the relationships between a self-forgiving attitude and both mood disturbance and quality of life (Z = −2.72, p = .006 and Z = −2.89, p = .004, respectively). Patients may benefit from a discussion with their oncologists and other healthcare providers about self-forgiveness and the potential benefits of reducing self-blame to facilitate adjustment to breast cancer.

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Author notes

  1. Lois C. Friedman

    Present address: Department of Psychiatry and Ireland Cancer Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Lois C. Friedman & Catherine Romero

  2. Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Lois C. Friedman, Richard Elledge, Jenny Chang, Mamta Kalidas, Garrett R. Lynch & C. Kent Osborne

  3. Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Lois C. Friedman, Richard Elledge, Jenny Chang, Mamta Kalidas, Garrett R. Lynch & C. Kent Osborne

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Mario F. Dulay

Authors
  1. Lois C. Friedman
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  2. Catherine Romero
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  3. Richard Elledge
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  4. Jenny Chang
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  5. Mamta Kalidas
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  6. Mario F. Dulay
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  7. Garrett R. Lynch
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  8. C. Kent Osborne
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Correspondence to Lois C. Friedman.

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Friedman, L.C., Romero, C., Elledge, R. et al. Attribution of Blame, Self-forgiving Attitude and Psychological Adjustment in Women with Breast Cancer. J Behav Med 30, 351–357 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-007-9108-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-007-9108-5

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