Title

Influence of stressors on breast cancer incidence in the Women's Health Initiative

Authors

Yvonne L. Michael, Oregon Health & Science University
Nichole E. Carlson, Oregon Health & Science University
Rowan T. Chlebowski, University of Arizona Medical Center
Mikel Aickin, University of Arizona Medical Center
Karen L. Weihs, University of Arizona Medical Center
Judith K. Ockene, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolFollow
Deborah J. Bowen, University of Washington - Bothell Campus
Cheryl Ritenbaugh, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research

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

Link to Article in PubMed

PubMed ID

19290705

Repository Citation

Michael YL, Carlson NE, Chlebowski RT, Aickin M, Weihs KL, Ockene JK, Bowen DJ, Ritenbaugh C. (2009). Influence of stressors on breast cancer incidence in the Women's Health Initiative. Women’s Health Research Faculty Publications. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012982. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/wfc_pp/496