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Psychosocial stress and breast cancer: the inter-relationship between stress events, coping strategies and personality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Cary L. Cooper  and
E. Brian Faragher
Cary L. Cooper*
Affiliation:
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology; and the Department of Medical Statistics, University Hospital of South Manchester(Withington), Manchester
E. Brian Faragher
Affiliation:
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology; and the Department of Medical Statistics, University Hospital of South Manchester(Withington), Manchester
*
1Address for correspondence: Professor Cary L. Cooper, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, PO Box 88, Manchester M60 IQD.
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Synopsis

This quasi-prospective study of 2163 women attending a breast-screening clinic for a routine medical check-up indicates that certain types of coping strategies and personality dispositions predispose some women to an increased risk of developing breast cancer following the occurrence of a major life-event such as bereavement or other loss-related event. Regular exposure to stress situations appears to reduce the risk of a malignancy; experiencing a single, major life event was found to be potentially much more damaging, particularly if the individual was unable to externalize her emotions and obtain appropriate help and counselling.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , August 1993 , pp. 653 - 662
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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