OPTIMISM AND COPING WITH A BREAST-CANCER SYMPTOM

This study was conducted to assess whether optimism was associated wit h less delay and anxiety in seeking care for breast cancer symptoms, e xpectations about such care seeking, and the likelihood of having brea st cancer. The influence of optimism on delay and anxiety through expe ctations about care seeking or likelihood of breast cancer was also ex amined. Participants (N = 135) with breast cancer symptoms and no hist ory of cancer were interviewed at a surgery clinic. Optimism was assoc iated with less delay and anxiety in care seeking and with expectation s of desirable outcomes of care seeking. After controlling for expecta tions about care seeking, the relationship of optimism and anxiety bec ame nonsignificant. Adjusting for differences in occupational status, the relationship of optimism and delay was nonsignificant. Thus, optim ism may influence anxiety in care seeking for breast cancer symptoms t hrough situation-specific expectations. The influence of optimism on d elay may be confounded with socioeconomic factors.