Profiles of Risk and Protective Factors of Women With Breast Cancer After 18 Months: A Latent Profile Analysis

The present study aimed to identify profiles of women diagnosed with breast cancer 18 months postdiagnosis based on a combination of risk and protective factors. Additionally, the study aimed to examine various potential early predictors at 3 and 6 months postdiagnosis to determine their association with the identified profiles at 18 months postdiagnosis. The sample of the study consisted of 499 women with breast cancer from four oncology centers located in Finland, Portugal, Italy, and Israel. Women completed self-report questionnaires at three time points postdiagnosis: 3, 6, and 18 months. The measures utilized included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, the Distress Thermometer, a single item assessing self-efficacy, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, a single item of bounce-back ability, and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Four profiles were identified: Resilience, High distress, Moderate distress, and Bouncing back coupled with distress. The primary predictors across all profiles were anxiety and depression, followed by posttraumatic growth, posttraumatic stress, self-efficacy, and bounce-back ability. This study highlighted that the challenges associated with breast cancer begin at the time of diagnosis and persist beyond the completion of treatment. Early provision of psychosocial support may facilitate improved positive adjustment 18 months postdiagnosis.