Personality dimensions as determinants of breast cancer progression and quality of life

Abstract Background Patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer often experience varied psychosocial responses and treatment outcomes, potentially influenced by personality traits. Understanding these traits can help clinicians predict psychological reactions and tailor early psychiatric or psycholo...

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Main Authors: Ali Talaei, Fatemeh Homaei Shandiz, Elham Ghaffari, Asma Khorshi Shamshiri, Sahar Omidvar-Tehrani, Fahimeh Afzaljavan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-07-01
Series:Middle East Current Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43045-025-00557-3
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author Ali Talaei
Fatemeh Homaei Shandiz
Elham Ghaffari
Asma Khorshi Shamshiri
Sahar Omidvar-Tehrani
Fahimeh Afzaljavan
author_facet Ali Talaei
Fatemeh Homaei Shandiz
Elham Ghaffari
Asma Khorshi Shamshiri
Sahar Omidvar-Tehrani
Fahimeh Afzaljavan
author_sort Ali Talaei
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer often experience varied psychosocial responses and treatment outcomes, potentially influenced by personality traits. Understanding these traits can help clinicians predict psychological reactions and tailor early psychiatric or psychological interventions. This study examines the link between personality dimensions, breast cancer prognosis, and quality of life. Methods In a comparative cross-sectional study conducted in Northeast Iran, 130 breast cancer patients and 158 healthy individuals completed demographic and Cloninger Temperament and Character Inventory questionnaires. Patients also completed the EORTC QLQ-BR23 quality of life questionnaire. Clinical data and progression-free survival were obtained from medical records. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS v16. Results Breast cancer patients had significantly higher self-transcendence scores than the healthy group (p < 0.001, effect size = 7%). High cooperativeness (p = 0.008) was higher in patients, whereas low harm avoidance (p < 0.001), novelty seeking (p = 0.013), persistence (p = 0.012), and self-transcendence (p = 0.021) were lower compared to controls. Additionally, global health was significantly lower in low reward dependency (p = 0.018, effect size = 6%) and persistence (p = 0.005, effect size = 8%) than normal scores. Survival analysis indicated that high harm avoidance was associated with an elevated hazard rate [p = 0.033, HR = 4.72, 95%CI (1.14–19.58)], whereas high self-transcendence correlated with a reduced hazard rate of disease progression [p = 0.015, HR = 0.27, 95%CI (0.09–0.77)]. Conclusion Personality traits significantly influence breast cancer progression and quality of life. The study highlights the potential for integrating early psychological risk assessments and personalized psychotherapy interventions to enhance the psychological well-being of breast cancer patients, offering a proactive approach to supportive care.
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spelling doaj-art-2d0b521b9ff0496ea7a95db50de6cb732025-08-20T04:01:42ZengSpringerOpenMiddle East Current Psychiatry2090-54162025-07-013211810.1186/s43045-025-00557-3Personality dimensions as determinants of breast cancer progression and quality of lifeAli Talaei0Fatemeh Homaei Shandiz1Elham Ghaffari2Asma Khorshi Shamshiri3Sahar Omidvar-Tehrani4Fahimeh Afzaljavan5Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical SciencesCancer Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, International Branch, Islamic Azad UniversityDepartment of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical SciencesPsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical SciencesPsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer often experience varied psychosocial responses and treatment outcomes, potentially influenced by personality traits. Understanding these traits can help clinicians predict psychological reactions and tailor early psychiatric or psychological interventions. This study examines the link between personality dimensions, breast cancer prognosis, and quality of life. Methods In a comparative cross-sectional study conducted in Northeast Iran, 130 breast cancer patients and 158 healthy individuals completed demographic and Cloninger Temperament and Character Inventory questionnaires. Patients also completed the EORTC QLQ-BR23 quality of life questionnaire. Clinical data and progression-free survival were obtained from medical records. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS v16. Results Breast cancer patients had significantly higher self-transcendence scores than the healthy group (p < 0.001, effect size = 7%). High cooperativeness (p = 0.008) was higher in patients, whereas low harm avoidance (p < 0.001), novelty seeking (p = 0.013), persistence (p = 0.012), and self-transcendence (p = 0.021) were lower compared to controls. Additionally, global health was significantly lower in low reward dependency (p = 0.018, effect size = 6%) and persistence (p = 0.005, effect size = 8%) than normal scores. Survival analysis indicated that high harm avoidance was associated with an elevated hazard rate [p = 0.033, HR = 4.72, 95%CI (1.14–19.58)], whereas high self-transcendence correlated with a reduced hazard rate of disease progression [p = 0.015, HR = 0.27, 95%CI (0.09–0.77)]. Conclusion Personality traits significantly influence breast cancer progression and quality of life. The study highlights the potential for integrating early psychological risk assessments and personalized psychotherapy interventions to enhance the psychological well-being of breast cancer patients, offering a proactive approach to supportive care.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43045-025-00557-3Breast neoplasmMiddle EastPersonalityPsycho-oncologyOutcomeTCI
spellingShingle Ali Talaei
Fatemeh Homaei Shandiz
Elham Ghaffari
Asma Khorshi Shamshiri
Sahar Omidvar-Tehrani
Fahimeh Afzaljavan
Personality dimensions as determinants of breast cancer progression and quality of life
Middle East Current Psychiatry
Breast neoplasm
Middle East
Personality
Psycho-oncology
Outcome
TCI
title Personality dimensions as determinants of breast cancer progression and quality of life
title_full Personality dimensions as determinants of breast cancer progression and quality of life
title_fullStr Personality dimensions as determinants of breast cancer progression and quality of life
title_full_unstemmed Personality dimensions as determinants of breast cancer progression and quality of life
title_short Personality dimensions as determinants of breast cancer progression and quality of life
title_sort personality dimensions as determinants of breast cancer progression and quality of life
topic Breast neoplasm
Middle East
Personality
Psycho-oncology
Outcome
TCI
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43045-025-00557-3
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