The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Fear of Disease Progression and Post-Traumatic Growth in Women with Breast Cancer

https://doi.org/10.61838/ijbmc.v12i4.940
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Breast Cancer Fear of Progression Post-Traumatic Growth Psychological Intervention

Authors

  • Aylin Abbasian M.A., Department of Psychology, Semnan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran. , Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Ali Mohammad Bagher
    ambpsych@yahoo.com
    Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Semnan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran., Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Shahab Moradi Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Semnan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran. , Iran, Islamic Republic of
Vol. 12 No. 4 (2025): July
Quantitative Study(ies)
March 26, 2025
April 28, 2025

Objective: Breast cancer is a life-threatening condition often accompanied by psychological challenges, including fear of disease progression (FoP) and the struggle to adapt to trauma. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has shown potential in reducing distress and enhancing psychological growth in patients with chronic illnesses. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of MBCT in reducing fear of cancer progression and enhancing post-traumatic growth (PTG) among women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Methods and Materials: A quasi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test, and control group design was conducted. Thirty women with stage I or II breast cancer were selected via purposive sampling from oncology clinics in Sari, Iran, and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) or a waitlist control group (n = 15). The intervention group received eight 90-minute sessions of MBCT. FoP was assessed using the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF), and PTG was measured using the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Data were analyzed using MANCOVA.

Findings: After controlling for baseline scores, the MBCT group showed a significant reduction in FoP and a significant increase in PTG compared to the control group (p < 0.01). These effects remained stable at a one-month follow-up.

Conclusion: MBCT appears to be an effective intervention for addressing psychological distress and promoting adaptive growth in women with breast cancer. Further research with larger and more diverse samples is recommended to confirm and expand upon these findings.