PERCEPTIONS OF CONTROL, PHYSICAL EXERCISE, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT TO BREAST-CANCER IN SOUTH-AFRICAN WOMEN

Psychological adjustment and locus of control were measured in 257 Sou th African women both with and without breast cancel: Adjustment was d efined as positive affect, negative affect the balance between the two , satisfaction with various domains of life, and an overall sense of w ell-being. Health locus of control was measured separately for interna l, external, and chance loci. The instrument's reliability was compara ble to that reported for U.S. norms. The women with breast cancer repo rted significantly lower affect and had lower internal and higher exte rnal and chance perceptions of control. The more invasive the surgical treatment, the greater the negative impact on adjustment Data suggest ed that using written instructions to stress the importance of exercis e to rebuild arm strength immediately following the surgery had a long -lasting positive impact on affect Side of intervention was also relat ed to psychological adjustment. Significant differences across racial groups were found for both adjustment and health locus of control.