Subjective sense of emotion control in breast cancer patients. The role of social support

Background: Breast cancer diagnosis causes a potential threat that triggers a natural defense reflex of psychological sphere – emotion suppression. A number of studies have revealed that such unnoticeable suppression mechanism has a destructive influence on human functioning in all life spheres. Thus, measuring of suppression expression seems to be a key issue. Emotion suppression might be an indicator of not coping with a new challenge and it requires support from other people.

Aim of the study: To measure the emotion control indicator and the need for social support.

Material and methods: The study was performed among 100 breast cancer patients using Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS). The data obtained in the study were analyzed by Fisher test.

Results: Results of the study have shown that most patients have a relatively high emotion control indicator, which increases with patients’ age. Higher emotion repression in anger scale was noticeable at each stage of the disease. Family status differentiates mainly the anxiety control. In addition, patients who live with a family show a higher tendency to repress the anxiety. More than 60% of the patients indicate the need for social support particularly at the time of diagnosis.

Conclusions: Women show greater emotion suppression (i.e. anxiety and depression). The subjective sense of emotion control, particularly depression and anxiety, increases with the age. Anger suppression is present at all stages of the disease and is common in both economically active and retired patients. A correlation between the social status and the need for social support is statistically significant. Patients who are economically active have a lower demand for social support.