Daily physical activity and fear of recurrence in early stage breast cancer patients and their spouses

• Main Author: McManus, Lauren Elizabeth
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Clinical psychology
• ISBN: 1369351658; 9781369351651

Physical activity (PA) represents a primary and secondary modifiable risk factor for chronic diseases such as cancer, a disease with both physical and mental health implications. In particular, PA has been shown to have many beneficial effects for cancer survivors, including reduced risk of cancer recurrence and improved well-being. Fear of recurrence (FOR) is often a top concern for cancer patients and their families, and has been associated with distress and disruptions in daily functioning, including health behaviors. An important question yet to be investigated is whether there is a relationship between FOR and PA in both patients and their spouses/partners who are coping with breast cancer. The present study attempted to address this gap in the literature by examining the directionality of the relationship between daily reports of FOR and daily objectively measured PA in both breast cancer survivors and their partners. Using a daily-diary design, patients and spouses each independently reported on their daily experience of FOR for 21 consecutive days as well as wore an accelerometer to measure PA. At the between-persons level, results indicated that patients and spouses who reported higher average FOR across the diary period, also engaged in less moderate-vigorous PA and more sedentary behavior. Patients who engaged in more PA across the diary period reported less average FOR. At a within-person level, results revealed that, for spouses, increased FOR on one day predicted more PA the next day. For patients, increased PA on one day predicted increased FOR the next day. This work has the potential to influence efforts towards developing effective interventions to help patients and spouses engage in regular PA by understanding the dynamic interplay between FOR and PA within the context of intimate relationships.