Social support and self-compassion mediate the relationship between alexithymia and quality of life in postoperative breast cancer patients: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: In breast cancer patients, alexithymia has been found to correlate with poorer quality of life. While previous research has established a connection between alexithymia and various outcomes, the mediating effect of social support and self-compassion—promoting quality of life—remains largely unexplored, underscoring the need for further investigation in this area. Objective: To examine the mediating role of social support and self-compassion in the association between alexithymia and quality of life in postoperative breast cancer patients. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 324 postoperative breast cancer patients from a tertiary Grade A hospital in Guangzhou, China. Variables were measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast version 4.0 (FACT-Bv4.0), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). Data analyses were performed using descriptive analysis, independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and mediation analyses performed with Hayes’ PROCESS macro for SPSS. Results: The study identified alexithymia was negatively associated with quality of life. Additionally, social support and self-compassion mediated the relationship between alexithymia and quality of life in postoperative breast cancer patients. Conclusion: The study highlights the complex interplay between alexithymia, quality of life, social support and self-compassion, emphasizing the significant mediating effects of social support and self-compassion among breast cancer patients. Additionally, the findings imply that interventions targeted at enhancing social support and self-compassion could manage the consequences of alexithymia, and ultimately improve their quality of life.