Model of Hope in Breast Cancer Patients after Surgery

Objective: The present study determined the fit of hope model based on spiritual health, body image, family support, and health locus of control mediated by social comparison in patients with postoperative breast cancer. Method: The sample of the study included 400 women selected using the purposive sampling method from patients with breast cancer who after surgery referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran in the spring and summer of 2021. Data collection tools included Gibbons and Buunk’s Social Comparison Orientation Scale (1993), Khodapnahi et al.’s Social Support Questionnaire (2009), Schneider Hope Scale (1991), Paloutzian and Ellison’s Spiritual Well-Being Scale (1982), Cash, Winstead, and Janda’s Body Image Questionnaire (1985), and Wallston et al.’s multidimensional Health Locus of control scales (1978). Results: The hope model based on spiritual health, body image, family support, and health locus of control mediated by social comparison in postoperative breast cancer patients had a good fit. Also, spiritual health (r = 0.48), body image (r = 0.46), family support (r = 0.37), and health locus of control (r = 0.23) had a direct correlation and indirect effect on the variable of hope mediated by social comparisons. Conclusion: In order to increase the hope as the inner force needed to fight breast cancer, we can improve the quality of spiritual health, positive body image, family support, source of health control, and social comparison.