Title
Influence of stressors on breast cancer incidence in the Women's Health Initiative
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine
Publication Date
2009-3
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Aged; Breast Neoplasms; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Surveys; Humans; Incidence; *Life Change Events; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors
Disciplines
Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences | Women's Studies
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine associations among life events stress, social support, and breast cancer incidence in a cohort of postmenopausal women.
DESIGN AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Women's Health Initiative observational study participants, breast cancer free at entry, who provided assessment of stressful life events, social support, and breast cancer risk factors, were prospectively followed for breast cancer incidence (n = 84,334).
RESULTS: During an average of 7.6 years of follow-up, 2,481 invasive breast cancers were diagnosed. In age-adjusted proportional hazards models, 1 stressful life event was associated with increased risk, but risk decreased with each additional stressful life event. After adjustment for confounders the decreasing risk was not significant. Stressful life events and social support appeared to interact in relation to breast cancer risk such that women who had greater number of stressful life events and low social support had a decreased risk of breast cancer.
CONCLUSIONS: This study found no independent association between stressful life events and breast cancer risk. The results are compatible with a more complex model of psychosocial factors interacting in relation to breast cancer risk.
DOI of Published Version
10.1037/a0012982
Source
Health Psychol. 2009 Mar;28(2):137-46. Link to article on publisher's site
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association
Related Resources
PubMed ID
19290705
Repository Citation
Michael, Yvonne L.; Carlson, Nichole E.; Chlebowski, Rowan T.; Aickin, Mikel; Weihs, Karen L.; Ockene, Judith K.; Bowen, Deborah J.; and Ritenbaugh, Cheryl, "Influence of stressors on breast cancer incidence in the Women's Health Initiative" (2009). Women’s Health Research Faculty Publications. 496.
https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/wfc_pp/496
