Relationships between Attachment Style, Emotional Self-Disclosure, and Quality of Life among Young Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objectives: This investigation aims to explore relationships between adult attachment, emotional self-disclosure, and quality of life (QoL).

Data sources: The study sample completed the Chinese versions of the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Scale, and the Distress Disclosure Index between October 2021 and March 2022. The relationships between adult attachment, emotional self-disclosure, and QoL were investigated using a multiple mediation effects test and structural equation modeling.

Conclusion: Attachment anxiety and avoidance were risk factors for young Chinese breast cancer survivors' emotional self-disclosure and QoL. Emotional self-disclosure mediates the association between attachment anxiety or avoidance and QoL. Assessing and easing attachment anxiety and avoidance may improve the emotional self-disclosure and QoL of young breast cancer survivors.

Implications for nursing practice: This study confirms that adult attachment plays an important role in young breast cancer patients' adaptation to the disease and that high adult anxiety and avoidance levels can significantly reduce emotional self-disclosure and QoL in young breast cancer survivors. Identifying attachment patterns can help caregivers better understand patients' responses, adaptation, and treatment adherence to cancer, thereby helping caregivers develop targeted and personalized cancer care practice programs or psychotherapy interventions to improve patients' physical and mental health outcomes.

Keywords: Adult attachment; Attachment anxiety; Attachment avoidance; Breast cancer; Emotional self-disclosure; Quality of life.