RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The present study identified and compared the coping strategies of Chinese American, Korean American, and Mexican American breast cancer survivors (BCS). METHODS: Six focus groups were conducted with Chinese American (n = 21), Korean American (n = 11), and Mexican American (n = 9) BCS. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated for thematic content analysis of coping experiences and strategies. RESULTS: Women reported the use of 8 coping strategies (religious/spiritual, benefit finding, fatalism, optimism, fighting spirit, information seeking, denial, and self-distraction). Among Chinese American BCS, benefit finding was the most referenced coping strategy, whereas religious/spiritual coping was most frequently reported among Korean American and Mexican American BCS. Denial and self-distraction were the least cited strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Survivors draw upon new found inner strength to successfully integrate their cancer experience into their lives. Coping models must consider the diversity of cancer survivors and the variability in coping strategies among cultural ethnic minority BCS.
Assuntos
Adaptação Psicológica , Asiático/psicologia , Neoplasias da Mama/psicologia , Americanos Mexicanos/psicologia , Sobreviventes/psicologia , Adulto , Asiático/estatística & dados numéricos , Neoplasias da Mama/terapia , Feminino , Grupos Focais , Humanos , Americanos Mexicanos/estatística & dados numéricos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Sobreviventes/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
This study examined causal attribution beliefs about breast cancer and the influence that these beliefs exert on health behavior change among breast cancer survivors (BCS). Focus groups with Chinese (n = 21), Korean (n = 11), and Mexican American (n = 9) BCS recruited through community- and hospital-based support groups were conducted. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and translated into English for thematic content analysis. Three themes concerning beliefs about breast cancer cause common to all three groups included (a) stress, (b) diet, and (c) fatalism. Causal beliefs corresponded to behavioral changes with women describing efforts to improve their diet and manage their stress. Ethnic minority BCS adhere to beliefs about what caused their cancer that influence their health behaviors. Providing quality health care to ethnically diverse cancer survivors requires cultural sensitivity to patients' beliefs about the causes of their cancer and awareness of how beliefs influence patients' health behaviors post diagnosis.
Assuntos
Asiático/psicologia , Neoplasias da Mama/etiologia , Cultura , Americanos Mexicanos/psicologia , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Neoplasias da Mama/psicologia , Feminino , Grupos Focais , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Grupos Minoritários/psicologia , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Estados Unidos/etnologiaRESUMO
This study explored how Chinese American, Korean American, and Mexican American women modify their health behaviors following breast cancer treatment and identified motivators and barriers that influence their changes. An exploratory, descriptive, qualitative study was undertaken using six focus groups. Discussions were transcribed and translated for content analysis. Significant differences among the ethnic groups were noted in the following health behavior practices which were most commonly stated as changed behaviors after a breast cancer diagnosis: 1) eating habits, 2) physical activity, 3) alternative medicine, 4) sleeping, 5) social activity, 6) weight control, and 7) alcohol consumption. Family, financial concerns, environment, and religious faith were commonly mentioned as motivators of and/or barriers to changes in health behaviors. Findings provide insight into different perspectives related to changes in health behaviors by ethnicity, which is critical for developing culturally tailored behavioral interventions to improve underserved breast cancer survivors' quality of life and to reduce health disparities.