Relationships of Mood Disturbance, Symptom Experience, and Attentional Function in Women with Breast Cancer Based upon the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms.
10.4040/jkan.2005.35.4.728
- Author:
Eun Hyun LEE
1
Author Information
1. Ajou University, Graduate School of Public Health, Suwon, Korea. ehlee@ajou.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Breast cancer;
symptom;
mood;
attention
- MeSH:
Regression Analysis;
Psychological Theory;
Multivariate Analysis;
Mood Disorders/etiology/*psychology;
Middle Aged;
Korea;
Humans;
Female;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Breast Neoplasms/*complications/drug therapy/*psychology;
*Attention;
Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects;
Aged;
Adult
- From:
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
2005;35(4):728-736
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify direct, mediating, and moderating relationships of mood disturbance, symptom experience, and attentional function in Korean women with breast cancer based upon a middle-range theory of unpleasant symptoms. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional, correlational design. A convenience sample of 125 women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer was recruited from a university hospital in South Korea. The women completed questionnaires on mood disturbance, symptom experience, and attentional function using the Linear Analogue Self-Assessment Scale, the Symptom Experience Scale, and the Attentional Function Index, respectively. RESULTS: Each mood disturbance and symptom experience showed a significant relationship with attentional function. Symptom experience did not act as a mediator between mood disturbance and attentional function, but it did act as a moderator: patients with a higher level of mood disturbance exhibited a lower level of attentional function when their symptoms were at the level of medium, but not when their symptoms were either high or low. CONCLUSION: This suggests that clinical interventions for attenuating the influence of mood disturbance on attentional function may be effective only in women experiencing medium level of symptoms.
