The Study of Type D Personality and Cognitive Strategies of Emotion Regulation as Predictors of Happiness and Quality of Life in Women With Breast Cancer

Background: Various personality traits, like A and D, have a lot of stress, anxiety, and negative emotions that make the patients with breast cancer be susceptible to more stress and negative perception of events. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the association of type D personality and cognitive strategies of emotion regulation with happiness and quality of life (QOL) in women with breast cancer. Methods: The present cross-sectional study included 100 women with breast cancer referred to Shiraz medical centers in summer 2015; the population of the study was chosen through purposive sampling method. Information was recorded through filling 4 questionnaires, including type D personality scale, cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire (CERQ), Oxford happiness inventory, and QOL questionnaire. Results: A significant negative association was observed between type D personality and happiness, and there was a positive association between type D personality and QOL (P < 0.001), between positive cognitive strategies of emotion regulation and QOL(P < 0.001), positive cognitive strategies of emotion regulation and happiness (P < 0.001), but no significant relationship was found between negative cognitive strategies of emotion regulation and happiness (P = 0.08). No significant relationship between negative cognitive strategies of emotion regulation and QOL(P = 0.25) was seen. Conclusions: These results elucidate the associations between personality and illness perceptions, demonstrating their close interrelatedness. Therefore, we can increase the awareness and understanding of personality traits as well as emotional regulation strategies about the disease in order to enhance happiness and quality of life in such patients.