Worry and Mindfulness Differentially Impact Symptom Burden Following Treatment Among Breast Cancer Survivors: Findings From a Randomized Crossover Trial

Authors

Megan E. Renna, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Annelise A. Madison, Ohio State UniversityFollow
Juan Peng, Ohio State University
Marcella Rosie Shrout, Purdue UniversityFollow
Maryam Lustberg, Yale School of MedicineFollow
Bhuvaneswari Ramaswamy, Ohio State UniversityFollow
Robert Wesolowski, Ohio State University
Jeffrey B. VanDeusen, Ohio State University
Nicole O. Williams, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Sagar D. Sardesai, Ohio State University College of MedicineFollow
Anne M. Noonan, Ohio State University College of MedicineFollow
Raquel E. Reinbolt, Ohio State University College of Medicine
Daniel G. Stover, Ohio State University College of MedicineFollow
Matthew Cherian, Ohio State University College of MedicineFollow
William B. Malarkey, Ohio State University College of Medicine
Rebecca Andridge, Ohio State University
Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser, Ohio State University College of MedicineFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-19-2023

School

Psychology

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer survivors often experience many somatic and cognitive side effects resulting from their cancer diagnosis and treatment, including higher rates of pain, fatigue, and memory/concentration problems. Emotion regulation offers opportunities to either enhance or dampen physical health.

Purpose: In a secondary analysis of a double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) using a typhoid vaccine to assess factors associated with breast cancer survivors’ inflammatory responses, we assessed how two specific aspects of emotion regulation, mindfulness, and worry, corresponded to acute changes in focus problems, memory problems, and fatigue along with performance on pain sensitivity and cognitive tasks across two visits among breast cancer survivors.

Methods: Breast cancer survivors (N = 149) completed two 8.5-hr visits at a clinical research center. Survivors were randomized to either the vaccine/saline placebo or a placebo/vaccine sequence. Worry and mindfulness questionnaires provided data on trait-level emotion regulation abilities. Fatigue, memory problems, and focus difficulties were assessed via Likert scales six times—once before the injections and then every 90 min for 7.5 hr thereafter. Women also completed a pain sensitivity task and several cognitive tasks at each visit.

Results: Findings from this study showed that breast cancer survivors who worried more and were less mindful experienced subjective memory problems, focus problems, and cold pain sensitivity across two visits and irrespective of injection type. Lower mindfulness also corresponded to higher subjective fatigue and hot pain sensitivity and objective ratings. Emotion regulation skills did not predict objective pain sensitivity or cognitive problems.

Conclusion: Results from this study highlight the benefits of adaptive emotion regulation in helping mitigate symptoms associated with breast cancer survivorship.

Publication Title

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Recommended Citation

Renna, M. E., Madison, A. A., Peng, J., Shrout, M. R., Lustberg, M., Ramaswamy, B., Wesolowski, R., VanDeusen, J. B., Williams, N. O., Sardesai, S. D., Noonan, A. M., Reinbolt, R. E., Stover, D. G., Cherian, M., Malarkey, W. B., Andridge, R., Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (2023). Worry and Mindfulness Differentially Impact Symptom Burden Following Treatment Among Breast Cancer Survivors: Findings From a Randomized Crossover Trial. Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/21556