Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of the childhood trauma on the adjustment to cancer in the patients with breast cancer

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Breast Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Early identification of patients coping poorly is important for compliance with treatment and control of distress. This study aims to investigate the effect of the childhood trauma experience on the type of reaction and adjustment that the person exhibits to the cancer among the patients with breast cancer.

Methods

This cross-sectional study enrolled 310 patients with breast cancer. The effect of the childhood trauma and the psychological condition on the adjustment to cancer was investigated by assessing the adjustment to cancer, the experiences of childhood trauma and psychological status of the subjects using mental adjustment to cancer scale (MAC), childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ28), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck anxiety inventory (BAI).

Results

Majority of the subjects (77.4%) showed positive adjustment to cancer. Fighting spirit (63.9%) was the most commonly seen mechanism of adjustment to cancer. Of the subjects, 54.5% suffered at least one of the childhood trauma types. Among the patients, 47.1% had depression and 58.4% had anxiety. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, emotional neglect and depression, respectively, have an effect on both positive and negative adjustment to cancer.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that childhood trauma, especially emotional neglect, affects coping and adjustment among the patients with breast cancer. It is necessary to determine the childhood experiences to ensure the development of psychosocial interventions that will increase the adjustment and quality of life after the diagnosis of the cancer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Elsheshtawy EA, Abo-Elez WF, Ashour HS, Farouk O, El Zaafarany MI. Coping strategies in egyptian ladies with breast cancer. Breast Cancer. 2014;8:97–102.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E, Hao Y, Xu J, Thun MJ. Cancer statistics. CA Cancer J Clin. 2009;59:225–49.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Tuncer M. Significance of cancer in Turkey, the burden of disease and cancer control policies. In: Tuncer M, editor. Cancer control in Turkey. 74th ed. Ankara: Onur Press, Health Ministry Publication; 2008. p. 5–9.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Fagundes CP, Lindgren ME, Shapiro CL, Kiecolt-Glaser JK. Child maltreatment and breast cancer survivors: social support makes a difference for quality of life, fatigue and cancer stress. Eur J Cancer. 2012;48(5):728–36.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Nosarti C, Roberts JV, Crayford T, McKenzie K, David AS. Early psychological adjustment in breast cancer patients: a prospective study. J Psychosom Res. 2002;53(6):1123–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Greer S, Morris T, Pettingale KW. Psychological response to breast cancer: effect on outcome. Lancet. 1979;2:785–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Fong TC, Ho RT. Re-examining the factor structure and psychometric properties of the mini-mental adjustment to cancer scale in a sample of 364 chinese cancer patients. Support Care Cancer. 2015;23(2):353–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Coker AL, Follingstad D, Garcia LS, Williams CM, Crawford TN, Bush HM. Association of intimate partner violence and childhood sexual abuse with cancer-related well-being in women. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2012;21(11):1180–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Clark L, Holcombe C, Hill J, Krespi-Boothby MR, Fisher J, Seward J, et al. Sexual abuse in childhood and postoperative depression in women with breast cancer who opt for immediate reconstruction after mastectomy. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2011;93(2):106–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Clark L, Beesley H, Holcombe C, Salmon P. The influence of childhood abuse and adult attachment style on clinical relationships in breast cancer care. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2011;33(6):579–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Salmon P, Hill J, Krespi R, Clark L, Fisher J, Holcombe C. The role of child abuse andage in vulnerability to emotional problems after surgery for breast cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2006;42:2517–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Green BL, Krupnick JL, Rowland JH, Epstein SA, Stockton P, Spertus I, et al. Trauma history as a predictor of psychologic symptoms in women with breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2000;18(5):1084–93.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Salmon P, Holcombe C, Clark L, Krespi R, Fisher J, Hill J. Relationships with clinical staff after a diagnosis of breast cancer are associated with patients’ experience of care and abuse in childhood. J Psychosom Res. 2007;63:255–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Beck AT, Waed CH, Endelson M. An inventory for measuring depression. Arch Gen Psychol. 1961;4:561–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hisli N. Beck Depresyon envanterinin geçerliği üzerine bir çalışma (a study on the validity of beck depression inventory). Psikoloji Dergisi. 1988;22:118–26.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ulusoy M, Şahin N, Erkmen H. Turkish version of Beck Anxiety inventory: psychometric properties. J Cogn Psychother. 1998;12(2):163–72.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Watson M, Greer S, Young J, Inayat Q, Burgess C, Robertson B. Development of a questionnaire measure of adjustment to cancer: the MAC scale. Psychol Med. 1988;18:203–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Braeken AP, Kempen GI, Watson M, Houben RM, Gils FC, Lechner L. Psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the mental adjustment to cancer scale in Dutch cancer patients. Psycho Oncol. 2010;19:742–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Natan İ Validy and reability studies of the mental adjustment to cancer scale on cancer diagnosed patients. Unpublished master’s thesis, 2000; Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.

  20. Bernstein DP, Stein JA, Newcomb MD, Walker E, Pogge D, Ahluvalia T, et al. Development and validation of a brief screening version of the childhood trauma questionnaire. Child Abuse Negl. 2003;27:169–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Şar V, Öztürk E, İkikardeş E. Validity and reliability of the Turkish version od childhood trauma questionnaire. TurkiyeKlinikleri. J Med Sci. 2012;32(4):1054–63.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Koopman C, Angell K, Turner-Cobb JM, Kreshka MA, Donnelly P, McCoy R, et al. Distress, coping and social support among rural women recently diagnosed with primary breast cancer. Breast J. 2001;7(1):25–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Baıder L, Andrıtsch E, Uzıely B, Ever-Hadanı P, Goldzweıg G, Hoffman G, et al. Do different cultural settings affect the psychological distress of women with breast cancer? a randomized study. Eur J Cancer Care. 2003;12:263–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Czerw A, Religioni U, Deptała A. Assessment of pain, acceptance of illness, adjustment to life with cancer and coping strategies in breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer. 2016;23(4):654–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Schover LR. The impact of breast cancer on sexuality, body image and intimate relationships. CA Cancer J Clin. 1991;41(2):112–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Bale ML. The illness attributions of women with breast cancer. Doctoral dissertation. Alameda: California School of Professional Psychology. Kaliforniya, 1995.

  27. Keller M. Psychosocial care of breast cancer patients. Anticancer Res. 1998;18:2257–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Maass SW, Roorda C, Berendsen AJ, Verhaak PF, de Bock GH. The prevalence of long-term symptoms of depression and anxiety after breast cancer treatment: a systematic review. Maturitas. 2015;82(1):100–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Tojal C, Costa R. Depressive symptoms and mental adjustment in women with breast cancer. Psychooncology. 2015;24(9):1060–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Burgess C, Cornelius V, Graham J, Ramirez A. Depression and anxiety in women with early breast cancer: five year observational cohort study. Br Med J. 2005;330:702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Braeken AP, Kempen GI, Watson M, Houben RM, Gils FC, Lechner L. Psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the mental adjustment to cancer scale in Dutch cancer patients. Psychooncology. 2010;19(7):742–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Ho SM, Fung WK, Chan CL, Watson M, Tsui YK. Psychometric properties of the chinese version of the mini-mental adjustment to cancer (MINI-MAC) scale. Psychooncology. 2003;12(6):547–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Wise LA, Palmer JR, Boggs DA, Adams-Campbell LL, Rosenberg L. Abuse victimization and risk of breast cancer in the Black Women’s Health Study [corrected]. Cancer Causes Control. 2011;22(4):659–69.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Turla A, Dündar C, Ozkanli C. Prevalence of childhood physical abuse in a representative sample of college students in Samsun, Turkey. J Interpers Violence. 2010;25(7):1298–308.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Schore AN. The effects of early relational trauma on right brain development, affect regulation, and infant mental health. Infant Ment Health J. 2001;22(1–2):201–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Goldsmith RE, Jandorf L, Valdimarsdottir H, Amend KL, Stoudt BG, Rini C, et al. Traumatic stress symptoms and breast cancer: the role of childhood abuse. Child Abuse Negl. 2010;34(6):465–70.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Leitenberg H, Gibson LE, Novy PL. Individual differences among undergraduate women in methods of coping with stressful events: the impact of cumulative childhood stressors and abuse. Child Abuse Negl. 2004;28(2):181–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Spertus IL, Yehuda R, Wong CM, Halligan S, Seremetis SV. Childhood emotional abuse and neglect as predictors of psychological and physical symptoms in women presenting to a primary care practice. Child Abuse Negl. 2003;27(11):1247–58.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Prevantive Oncology, Istanbul University Institute of Oncology, Istanbul, Turkey

    Hulya Guveli

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Istanbul University Institute of Oncology, Istanbul, Turkey

    Murat Emin Guveli, Necla Gurdal, Makbule Tambas & Seden Kucucuk

  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Istanbul University Institute of Oncology, Capa, Istanbul, Turkey

    Fatma Sen & Adnan Aydıner

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul University Istanbul Medicine of Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey

    Serap Oflaz & Mine Ozkan

Authors
  1. Hulya Guveli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Murat Emin Guveli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fatma Sen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Serap Oflaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Necla Gurdal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Makbule Tambas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Seden Kucucuk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Adnan Aydıner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Mine Ozkan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fatma Sen.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Guveli, H., Guveli, M.E., Sen, F. et al. Effect of the childhood trauma on the adjustment to cancer in the patients with breast cancer. Breast Cancer 24, 544–551 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-016-0737-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-016-0737-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation