The mutual determination of self-efficacy to cope with cancer and cancer-related coping over time: a prospective study in women with breast cancer

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal impact of self-efficacy to cope with cancer on the cancer-related coping reactions of breast cancer patients and vice versa.

Design and main outcomes measures

Data from the BOUNCE Project (https://www.bounce-project.eu/) were used to address the hypotheses. Participants (N = 403) were enrolled in the study a few weeks after surgery or biopsy. Coping self-efficacy was assessed at baseline and six months later (M6). Cancer-related coping was assessed three (M3) and nine months (M9) after baseline. The analyses were performed using structural equation modeling with Mplus 8.6.

Results

Baseline coping self-efficacy predicted all M3 coping reactions, while M6 coping self-efficacy also predicted changes in all but one M9 coping reaction. Moreover, one of the M3 coping reactions, that is, hopelessness/helplessness, predicted the changes in M6 coping self-efficacy. The relation between coping self-efficacy and one coping reaction (i.e. cognitive avoidance) was rather weak. Stability paths from M3 to M9 coping reactions were moderate to high.

Conclusion

The relationship between self-efficacy to cope with cancer and cancer-related coping is complex. New theoretical models are needed to more accurately describe the diverse aspects of this association.

Keywords:

• Breast cancer
• adaptation to breast-cancer
• self-efficacy
• coping self-efficacy
• coping
• BOUNCE

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to ethical restrictions.

Disclosure of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 777167.