Psychosocial factors and the development of breast cancer: a meta-analysis

Health Psychol. 1999 Sep;18(5):520-31. doi: 10.1037//0278-6133.18.5.520.

Abstract

A meta-analysis examined the relationship between psychosocial factors and the development of breast cancer. Average effect sizes (Hedges's g) were calculated from 46 studies for 8 major construct categories: anxiety/depression, childhood family environment, conflict-avoidant personality, denial/repression coping, anger expression, extraversion-introversion, stressful life events, and separation/loss. Significant effect sizes were found for denial/repression coping (g = .38), separation/loss experiences (g = .29), and stressful life events (g = .25). Although conflict-avoidant personality style was also significant (g = .19), the effect size was less robust, and a moderate number of future studies with null results would reduce the significance. Results overall support only a modest association between specific psychosocial factors and breast cancer and are contrary to the conventional wisdom that personality and stress influence the development of breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Breast Neoplasms / complications
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events*
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Disorders / complications
  • Personality Disorders / psychology
  • Social Environment*