Positive psychology in women with breast cancer

There are some factors that promote the personal development and psychological wellbeing, which we want to increase and adapt in the patient's life to improve their quality of life. The aim of this study is to analyze some components of Positive Psychology in women with breast cancer, like resilience, sense of humor and self-efficacy, and to observe their relation with emotional wellbeing and variables like type of surgery and type of treatment. The sample of participants consisted in 131 women diagnosed with breast cancer from different Spanish hospitals. They were evaluated by a first interview where we collected demographic data, information about disease and personal strengths; and the Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale (HADS) to evaluated emotional wellbeing. We found relationships between emotional wellbeing and protective factors proposed. Emotional well-being was associated with a sense of humor, resilience and how to understand the disease and self-efficacy, presenting fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. (C) 2015 Published by Future Academy