Changes in Lifestyle Initiated by Breast Cancer Patients: Who Does and Who Doesn't

Abstract

The American Cancer Society recommends a variety of health-promoting behaviors to prevent cancer. Little is known, however, about the health-promoting behaviors of individuals with cancer. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that might influence cancer patients to make health-promoting changes in their own behavior. Three factors — Coping Strategies, Social Support, and Patient Attitudes concerning responsibility for their own recovery — were hypothesized to influence changes in stress levels, diet, exercise, and mental outlook. Findings indicate that coping strategies are significant predictors of changes in stress level, diet, and mental outlook, and patient attitudes concerning responsibility for recovery contribute to positive changes in exercise. The latter finding suggests that taking responsibility for one's own health is important in motivating breast cancer patients to engage in health-promoting physical activity. Our study findings have important implications for both health communication professionals who design persuasion strategies and clinicians who counsel cancer patients concerning health-promoting behavior changes.