The Effectiveness of Stress Management Training on Hardiness in Patients with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Objective: Since the stress management program can train necessary skills to cope with stress; therefore, the aim of the current study is to examine the effectiveness of stress management training on the hardiness of breast cancer patients. Method: This quasi-experimental research designed with the pretest-posttest control groups. 60 women with breast cancer in the recovery period after chemotherapy were selected based on accessible sampling from cancer charity “Sepas” in Tehran and randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group, during 8 weekly 2-hour sessions was trained in stress management. Hardiness experimental and control groups once before and once after the program was evaluated using questionnaire Kobasa hardiness. Results: Results showed that the experimental and control groups before the intervention of the variables are not significantly different. Multivariable analysis of covariance showed that there is a significant difference between pre-test and post-test score in the experimental group. Finally, the results indicated that stress management training increases the hardiness and its components (such as commitment, control, and challenge) in women with breast cancer. Conclusions: Therefore, stress management training for women with breast cancer can be used as an effective way to improve psychological care for this group of women at health centers.