Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing depression in breast cancer patients.
Method: A descriptive correlational study design was used. A convenience sample of 155 subjects was recruited from the outpatient for breast cancer patients at one hospital in Gyeonggi, South Korea. Body image was measured with the category of “Body image” from the EORTC QLQ-BR23(European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Breast cancer version) and sexual function was measured with category of “sexual function” from it. Depression was measured with Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory(BDI).
Results: The mean score of body image was relatively low(M = 54.44, SD = 30.92), of sexual function was low (M = 24.82, SD = 22.50), and of depression was relatively low(M =14.90, SD = 8.00). Depression had a significant relationship with body image(r = -.363, p = ＜.001), however, there was no significant relationship between depression and sexual function(r = -.137, p = .103). In the regression analysis, depression was found to be influenced significantly by monthly income and body image, these variables explained 28.8% of the variance in depression(F = 4.662. p = ＜.001).
Conclusion: It suggests that nurses need to take into consideration body image and economic status in management depression in breast cancer survivors.
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