Factors affecting resilience among young breast cancer survivors: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Purpose

Resilience is a crucial factor in allowing young breast cancer survivors (YBCSs) to adapt to life following treatment. However, a comprehensive understanding of the factors that affect resilience in this population is limited. This study aimed to investigate the associations among various factors affecting resilience, including social support, family communication, fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), cancer coping, and hope, in YBCSs.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 227 YBCSs aged 20–45 years who completed active cancer treatment. Data were gathered through self-administered surveys utilizing validated instruments to measure FCR, social support, family communication, cancer coping, hope, and resilience. Statistical analyses involved descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, linear regression, and bootstrapping for assessing indirect effects.

Results

Social support (β = .15, p = .008), family communication (β = .25, p < .001), cancer coping (β = .23, p < .001), and hope (β = .33, p < .001) were positively associated with resilience, whereas FCR exhibited a significant negative effect (β = −.08, p = .028). Indirect effects indicated that social support and family communication affected resilience through hope, whereas family communication demonstrated an indirect effect on cancer coping. FCR negatively affected resilience primarily through hope.

Conclusion

Targeted interventions focusing on reducing FCR, improving social support, and enhancing family communication are crucial for fostering resilience in YBCSs. Coping and hope-based strategies in clinical nursing care need to be integrated for long-term survivor support. Nurses and healthcare providers need to develop and implement sustained, culturally sensitive interventions that address the evolving psychosocial requirements of YBCSs.