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The impact of dispositional emotional expressivity and social constraints on distress among prostrate cancer patients in Iceland
- Authors:
- AGUSTDOTTIR Sjofn, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Health Psychology, 15(1), February 2010, pp.51-61.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This report, part of a larger study, identifies individual factors that predict which Icelandic prostrate cancer patients are more likely to experience emotional distress (anxiety, depression or intrusive thoughts). Social constraints, such as unsupportive social networks, can prevent patients talking, or writing, about distress related to their illness which is generally considered to be beneficial to those who can. When individuals are displaced, in situations or locations which hamper their preferred coping styles they have poorer cardiovascular adjustment, contributing to distress. Using the Icelandic Cancer registry, 184 prostrate cancers survivors, mostly over 70 years, completed questionnaires, including measures for demographics, medical details, hospital anxiety, depression, impact of specific events, emotional expressivity and social constraints, and the data was analysed according to scales defined in the report. A significant positive relationship was observed between perceived social constraints and distress, but only among prostrate cancer survivors with higher levels of dispositional emotional expressivity. This suggests the relationship between social constraints and distress was moderated by dispositional emotional expressivity, with prostrate cancer survivors with high levels of social constraints and high dispositional emotional expressivity having the highest level of distress about their prostrate cancer. It may be important, say the authors, to assess individual differences as well as social environmental factors in the treatment of emotional distress among prostrate cancer survivors.