Idiosyncratic Profile of Perceived Emotional Intelligence and Post-Traumatic Growth in Breast Cancer Survivors: Findings of a Multiple Mediation Model

Rocío Guil; Paula Ruiz-González; Lucía Morales-Sánchez; Rocío Gómez-Molinero; Paloma Gil-Olarte

doi:10.3390/ijerph19148592

Idiosyncratic Profile of Perceived Emotional Intelligence and Post-Traumatic Growth in Breast Cancer Survivors: Findings of a Multiple Mediation Model

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 14;19(14):8592. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19148592.

Authors

Rocío Guil^{1

2

3}, Paula Ruiz-González^{1

2

3}, Lucía Morales-Sánchez^{1

2

3}, Rocío Gómez-Molinero^{1

2

3}, Paloma Gil-Olarte^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Cádiz, 11519 Cádiz, Spain.
² Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of Cádiz (INIBICA), 11009 Cádiz, Spain.
³ University Research Institute for Sustainable Social Development (INDESS), University of Cádiz, 11406 Cádiz, Spain.

Abstract

Psycho-oncology research suggests that positive personal changes can occur after experiencing breast cancer. These changes can be understood as post-traumatic growth (PTG) and seem to be determined by emotional self-efficacy perception. This study aims to investigate the existence of different profiles of PTG and perceived emotional intelligence (PEI) among breast cancer survivors (BCSs) and healthy controls. Moreover, it aims to study the mechanisms through which PEI may mediate the relationship between disease survival and PTG. The total sample was 636 women divided into two groups: 56 BCS and 580 healthy controls who completed TMMS-24 and PTGI. The results displayed that BCSs apparently show a different profile of PTG and PEI compared to healthy women. The mediation analyses showed that survivorship explained 1.9% of PTG, increasing to 26.5% by the effect of PEI. An indirect effect showed that cancer survival predicts reduced levels of emotional attention, decreasing PTG. However, the most statistical indirect effect evidenced that BCSs regulate their emotions appropriately, having a powerful effect on PTG and counteracting the negative effects of poor emotional attention. Knowing the implications of PEI on PTG could improve follow-up from the time of diagnosis and supporting the patient to cope with the sequelae of the disease.

Keywords: breast cancer survivors; emotional attention; emotional clarity; emotional repair; perceived emotional intelligence; post-traumatic growth.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Breast Neoplasms* / psychology
Cancer Survivors* / psychology
Emotional Intelligence
Female
Humans
Posttraumatic Growth, Psychological*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / psychology
Survivors / psychology

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the grant PIN-01-09-2018 “E-Health para la Promoción de la Salud y Calidad de Vida en Oncología Mamaria”, funded by Consejería de Salud y Familias of Junta de Andalucía (Spain).