P. Gerits et B. De Brabander, Psychosocial predictors of psychological, neurochemical and immunological symptoms of acute stress among breast cancer patients, PSYCH RES-N, 85(1), 1999, pp. 95-103
The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of locus of control,
social support and their interaction on acute stress indicators as a conseq
uence of the communication of the results of a breast biopsy. Immunological
and psychological indicators were evaluated in 50 patients with breast ten
derness. We found little evidence for the existence of a relationship betwe
en psychosocial variables considered to be stress indicators and acute stre
ss symptoms. Concerning the results of the first assessment, only the relat
ion between locus of control and psychological distress was meaningful. Wit
h regard to the existence of a relationship between psychosocial variables
and natural killer cell system indicators, only the number of natural kille
r cells (NKC) could be explained by the psychosocial model including locus
of control, perceived social support from relatives and the interaction bet
ween locus of control and perceived social support from relatives. (C) 1999
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