Breast cancer, poverty and mental health: emotional response to the disease in women from popular classes

Authors

  • Rodrigo Sanches Peres University of São Paulo; Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto; Departament of Psychology and Education
  • Manoel Antônio dos Santos University of São Paulo; Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto; Departament of Psychology and Education

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692007000700012

Keywords:

breast neoplasms, poverty, mental health, psychological adaptation

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the emotional response of a low-income group of women to the breast cancer. The sample was composed by 15 patients from a mastectomized women's support entity. Data were collected through individual face-to-face semi-structured interview. The results were appraised according to a classification system that postulates the existence of four categories mutually excluding: denial, stoicism, affliction and confrontation. The results obtained indicate that stoicism was the more frequent emotional response in the evaluated group. The scientific literature shows that stoicism can contribute to the temporary reduction of stress, but it gradually leads to a uselessness feeling which tends to make difficult the psychosocial adjustment to the disease and its treatment.

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Published

2007-10-01

Issue

Vol. 15 (2007): Número Especial

Section

Original Articles

License

RLAE’s authorship concept is based on the substantial contribution by each of the individuals listed as authors, mainly in terms of conceiving and planning the research project, collecting or analyzing and interpreting data, writing and critical review. Indication of authors’ names under the article title is limited to six. If more, authors are listed on the online submission form under Acknowledgements. The possibility of including more than six authors will only be examined on multicenter studies, considering the explanations presented by the authors.
Including names of authors whose contribution does not fit into the above criteria cannot be justified. Those names can be included in the Acknowledgements section.
 Authors are fully responsible for the concepts disseminated in their manuscripts, which do not necessarily reflect the editors’ and editorial board’s opinion.

 

How to Cite

Peres, R. S., & Santos, M. A. dos. (2007). Breast cancer, poverty and mental health: emotional response to the disease in women from popular classes. Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 15(spe), 786-791. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692007000700012