The relationship between agentic and communal personality traits and psychosocial adjustment to breast cancer

Agency, communion, unmitigated agency (UA), and unmitigated communion (UC) are related to psychosocial health outcomes in nonclinical and medical popu lations. This study examined the relationship between these personality tra its and emotional and interpersonal well-being, as up to 50% of women exper ience difficulties in psychosocial adjustment after being diagnosed with br east cancer. Seventy-four women newly diagnosed with breast cancer complete d baseline assessment measures within 2 weeks prior to their first chemothe rapy treatment or at the beginning of their hormonal therapy. Findings indi cate that (1) agency and UA are important correlates of emotional and inter personal adjustment and should be considered when attempting to identify wo men at high risk for psychosocial distress, and (2) UC deserves increased a ttention in behavioral medicine research, given its strong relationship wit h emotional distress in a breast cancer population. Thus, evidence continue s to accumulate regarding the important relationship of these personality t raits to psychosocial outcomes in medical populations.