Systemic inflammation among breast cancer survivors: the roles of goal disengagement capacities and health-related self-protection
Door annelies_verachtert op Zat, 30/08/2014 - 00:00
Abstract: This study examined the associations between breast cancer survivors’ capacity to adjust to unattainable goals (through goal disengagement and goal reengagement), health-related self-protection (e.g., positive reappraisals), and low-grade systemic inflammation (i.e., C-reactive protein [CRP]).
Methods: Self-reports of goal adjustment capacities and health-related self-protection were measured and concentrations of the inflammatory molecule CRP were quantified in a cross-sectional sample of 121 female breast cancer survivors (Mage 55.53, SD = 10.99 years).
Results: Results from hierarchical linear regression analyses indicated that low levels of goal disengagement capacities predicted higher CRP. Moreover, health-related self-protection buffered the association between failure to disengage from unattainable goals and elevated CRP. These results were independent from potential confounders including age, education, smoking, BMI, cancer stage, and time since diagnosis.
Conclusions: The study’s findings suggest that goal disengagement capacities and health-related self-protection can work together in predicting systemic inflammation among breast cancer survivors. Failure to disengage from unattainable goals may trigger health-compromising inflammatory processes, unless breast cancer survivors are able to engage in self-protection to manage their health threats. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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