Causal Attribution, Control, and Adjustment to Breast Cancer

Abstract

The authors explored the extent to which causal thinking and perceptions of control were associated with the psychosocial adjustment of women with breast cancer. A causal attributions interview, questions about perceived control, and two questionnaires about adjustment were completed by 195 women. Regression analyses indicated that perceived loss of control was the most important factor in predicting overall adjustment and thinking about "Why me?" was the second most important factor, whereas thinking about "Why me?" was first and perceived loss of control was second in predicting psychological distress. The findings indicated that clinicians who work with cancer patients should be alert to possible adjustment problems in patients who express concern about "Why me?" that feelings of loss of control may be a valuable feature in assessment, and that education about the growing effectiveness of therapies for breast cancer seems to be an especially important strategy for enhancing adjustment to the disease.