Personality as a predictor of well-being in a randomized trial of a mindfulness-based stress reduction of Danish women with breast cancer

Abstract

<b>Purpose:</b> Many clinical interventions have been designed to improve psychological well-being in women with breast cancer; however, there are individual differences in the extent of benefit across participants. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a structured 8-week intervention that has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety for patients with breast cancer. Personality factors may influence which participants benefit more from various psychological interventions, including MBSR.<b>Design:</b> In a secondary analysis, we examined whether personality factors accounted for variability in response to an MBSR intervention for women with breast cancer.<b>Sample:</b> Two hundred eighty Danish women with breast cancer who completed the Mindfulness and Cancer Mamma trial were included in this analysis.<b>Methods:</b> Using multiple regression analyses, we investigated whether personality factors, measured by the NEO-PI-R, contribute independently or interact with treatment to predict depressive symptoms at 2, 6, and 12-month follow-up.<b>Findings:</b> The interaction between low conscientiousness and MBSR, as well as high neuroticism and MBSR each predicted significantly lower levels of distress at 12-month follow-up compared to women who higher in conscientious or lower in neuroticism.<b>Conclusions:</b> Personality factors may contribute to the impact of psychosocial interventions, such as MBSR, on psychological well-being.<b>Implications for Psychosocial Providers:</b> Utilizing personality measures may assist providers in identifying which patients may benefit from mindfulness therapies.