Personality traits score in women with breast cancer and its comparison with healthy women

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Personality and psychological differences cause different reactions to stress, and role as an underlying factor for various disease especially cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the personality traits score in women with breast cancer and compare it with healthy women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on two groups in Isfahan, Iran, from September 2019 to July 2020. The first group included 65 women with breast cancer and the second group included 100 healthy women. After completing Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) personality traits questionnaire, personality trait scores were calculated for each person, and were averaged in tow groups; then were compared with each other. SPSS statistical software and descriptive statistical methods were used for statistical analysis of information. Findings: There was no significant difference between the variables of smoking, menstrual status, and onset age of menstruation between the study groups (P > 0.050), while the frequency distribution of family history in the study groups was significantly different (P < 0.050). The mean score of extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness traits in the cancer group were significantly lower (P < 0.050) and neuroticism and agreeableness traits in the cancer group were significantly higher than the healthy group (P < 0.050). Conclusion: Personality traits of extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness in patients with breast cancer are less than healthy people, and personality traits of neuroticism and agreeableness are more in patients with breast cancer than healthy people. © 2021 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.