The Effect of Personality, Social Support, and Life Events on Overall Survival in Breast Cancer

Background: Breast cancer is the most malignant disease among women worldwide. Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to investigate psychological factors on progress of cancer. Methods: A total of 150 patients with breast cancer, who had attended the Cancer Research Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences from 2012 to 2014, were selected and assessed by patient clinical demographic questionnaire, NEO personality inventory (NEO PI), multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), and stressful life events scale. Results: 32.9% of patients has been diagnosed with stage 1, 39.9% with stage 2, 26.6% with stage 3, and 0.7% with stage 4 cancer. Among the personality traits, only conscientiousness has a significant correlation with the amount of lymph nodes. The effect size is 4.9%. In evaluating recurrence control with social support and personality traits, only conscientiousness and neuroticism have a significant correlation with lymph nodes. Correlation between the variables was not significant with the control of the effects of adverse events. Conclusions: Psychosocial elements are among the factors affecting the treatment of patients with breast cancer. In this regard, stressful life events, especially the incidents associated with one’s spouse and family, and the social support indicators influence the treatment and recovery of the patients