Background: How breast cancer surgery affects social adjustment among Chinese women is unknown, as are factors predicting such adjustment.
Methods: 405 Chinese women receiving surgery for localized breast cancer completed Social Adjustment Scales (Ch-SAS) at 1-, 4- and 8-months post-operatively. Subscale scores were regressed on baseline (days 3-12 post-operatively) measures of treatment decision-making difficulty (TDMD), self-efficacy (GSeS), consultation satisfaction (C-MISS-R), psychological (CHQ-12) and physical distress (PD), and 1-month follow-up optimism (C-LOT-R), and disappointment (E-OI), fully adjusted for demographic and clinical factors.
Results: All Ch-SAS subscales except appearance & sexuality changed significantly over 8-months follow-up: Enjoyment of social activities (F=27.38, df 2, p<0.001) and self-image (F=3.63, df 2, p=0.027) improved slightly. Family interaction (F=26.63, df 2, p<0.001) and interaction with friends (F=3.37, df 2, p=0.035) declined slightly. Family and friends interaction subscales were predominantly predicted by high self-efficacy and optimism, whereas self-image and appearance & sexuality subscales were predominantly predicted by low treatment outcome disappointment, TDM difficulties, baseline psychological morbidity and high self-efficacy. Enjoyment of social activities was predicted by low baseline psychological distress and concurrent physical symptom distress.
Conclusion: High self-efficacy and optimism predicted women who have better social relationships with friends and family. Higher self-efficacy, low TDM difficulties, less disappointment with treatment outcome and low psychological and physical distress predicted better adjustment to self-image and body image.