Self‐compassion and fear of cancer recurrence in Chinese breast cancer patients: The mediating role of maladaptive cognitive styles

AbstractObjectivesPrevious studies have examined the benefits of self‐compassion for psychological symptoms in breast cancer patients; however, little is known about the role of self‐compassion for patients' fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) as well as the underlying mediating mechanisms. This study aimed to examine the effect of self‐compassion on FCR, and whether maladaptive cognitive styles mediate this relationship.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study included 304 females with breast cancer. A self‐report questionnaire was used to assess patients' self‐compassion, maladaptive cognitive styles (i.e., rumination and catastrophising), and FCR. Parallel mediation analyses were conducted to examine the research questions.ResultsApproximately half of the patients with breast cancer reported elevated levels of FCR. Self‐compassion was negatively related to FCR, and the relationship between self‐compassion and FCR was mediated by catastrophising, whereas rumination did not significantly mediate the relationship between self‐compassion and FCR.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that self‐compassion and catastrophising are closely associated with FCR in patients with breast cancer, and catastrophising is a mediator between self‐compassion and FCR. Clinicians could reduce breast cancer patients' FCR by enhancing their self‐compassion and improving their maladaptive cognitive styles.