Relationship between defense mechanisms and the quality of life in women with breast cancer

Abstract

Background: Patients with breast cancer often experience severe psychological distress after awareness of cancer and during the course of treatment, and have lower physical and psychological quality in their life. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between defense mechanisms in cancer patients with various aspects of their quality of life. Methods: The present study is a correlational study. Participants were 96 women with breast cancer who were referred and hospitalized at Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran in summer of 2015 and were selected by convenience sampling. They completed defense mechanisms and general quality of life questionnaires. Data were analyzed using canonical correlation model. Results: Two significant canonical functions were identified in data. First canonical function showed that too much use of displacement and regression defense mechanisms are accompanied with low level of quality of life in physical, cognitive and role aspects. Second canonical function showed that toomuchuse of reaction formation and projection defense mechanisms are associated with lower levels of quality of life in cognitive and role aspects. Conclusions: Paying attention to psychological factors and defense mechanisms that are used by cancer patients could help clinical therapists to make very effective mental health interventions.