School of Nursing

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Browsing School of Nursing by Author "Adams, Rebecca N."

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    Avoidant Coping and Self-efficacy Mediate Relationships between Perceived Social Constraints and Symptoms among Long-term Breast Cancer Survivors
    (Wiley, 2016) Adams, Rebecca N.; Mosher, Catherine E.; Cohee, Andrea A.; Stump, Timothy E.; Monahan, Patrick O.; Sledge, George W., Jr; Cella, David; Champion, Victoria L.; Department of Psychology, School of Science
    Objective Many breast cancer survivors feel constrained in discussing their cancer experience with others. Limited evidence suggests that social constraints (e.g., avoidance and criticism) from loved ones may negatively impact breast cancer survivors' global health, but research has yet to examine relationships between social constraints and common physical symptoms. Informed by social cognitive processing theory, this study examined whether perceived social constraints from partners and healthcare providers (HCPs) were associated with fatigue, sleep disturbance, and attentional functioning among long-term breast cancer survivors (N = 1052). In addition, avoidant coping and self-efficacy for symptom management were examined as potential mediators of these relationships. Methods Long-term breast cancer survivors (mean years since diagnosis = 6) completed questionnaires assessing social constraints from partners and HCPs, avoidant coping, self-efficacy for symptom management, and symptoms (i.e., fatigue, sleep disturbance, and attentional functioning). Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the hypothesized relationships among variables in two models: one focused on social constraints from partners and one focused on social constraints from HCPs. Results Both models demonstrated good fit. Consistent with theory and prior research, greater social constraints from both partners and HCPs were associated with greater symptom burden (i.e., greater fatigue and sleep disturbance, poorer attentional functioning). In addition, all relationships were mediated by avoidant coping and self-efficacy for symptom management. Conclusions Findings are consistent with social cognitive processing theory and suggest that symptom management interventions may be enhanced by addressing the impact of social constraints from survivors' partners and HCPs on their coping and self-efficacy.
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    Cognitive and Situational Precipitants of Loneliness Among Patients With Cancer: A Qualitative Analysis
    (Oncology Nursing Society, 2016-03) Adams, Rebecca N.; Mosher, Catherine E.; Abonour, Rafat; Robertson, Michael J.; Champion, Victoria L.; Kroenke, Kurt; Department of Psychology, School of Science
    PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To identify situations and thoughts that may precipitate or protect against loneliness experienced by patients with cancer. RESEARCH APPROACH: Qualitative. SETTING: The hematology/oncology clinic at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, an outpatient oncology center in Indianapolis. PARTICIPANTS: Purposive sample of 15 patients undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: Individual, semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted. Theoretical thematic analysis was used to analyze interview data. FINDINGS: Factors that appeared to precipitate loneliness included several situations (e.g., physical isolation, social constraints such as criticism) and thoughts (e.g., unmet expectations for visits or questions about health, belief that others do not understand their cancer experience). Several situations (e.g., social support, normal routine) and thoughts (e.g., beliefs that time alone is desirable and that others' discomfort with cancer-related discussions is normative) appeared to protect against loneliness. Certain social situations were loneliness-inducing for some patients and not for others, suggesting that patients' thoughts about their situations, rather than the situations themselves, have the greatest impact on their loneliness. CONCLUSIONS: The current study fills gaps in loneliness theory by identifying cancer-related situations and thoughts that patients associate with their loneliness. Consistent with theory, patients reported feeling lonely when they had negative thoughts about their social situations. INTERPRETATION: Findings inform nursing assessment and intervention strategies to incorporate into care plans. For instance, when conducting assessments, nurses should be more attentive to patients' satisfaction with their social environment than actual characteristics of the environment. Normalizing patients' experiences and encouraging positive thoughts about others' behavior may reduce patients' loneliness.
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    Factors associated with depressive symptoms in young long-term breast cancer survivors
    (Springer, 2016-08) Cohee, Andrea A.; Stump, Timothy; Adams, Rebecca N.; Johns, Shelley A.; Von Ah, Diane; Zoppi, Kathleen; Fife, Betsy; Monahan, Patrick O.; Cella, David; Champion, Victoria L.; Department of Nursing, IU School of Nursing
    Purpose Long-term breast cancer survivors frequently report distress (i.e., depressive symptoms) that impacts their quality of life. Previous studies have found that negative social interactions (“social constraints”) from partners contribute to long-term, unresolved cycling of intrusive thoughts and cognitive avoidance, resulting in psychological distress. However, these relationships have not been tested in long-term breast cancer survivors. Furthermore, the effect of partners’ depressive symptoms on the survivors’ depressive symptoms has not been tested within the context of these relationships. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to test relationships between breast cancer survivors’ depressive symptoms and (1) social constraints, cognitive avoidance, and intrusive thoughts, and (2) partners’ depressive symptoms. Methods Data were from a cross-sectional descriptive study of breast cancer survivors (N = 222) 3–8 years post-diagnosis and their partners, who completed surveys assessing demographic characteristics, social constraints, intrusive thoughts, cognitive avoidance, and depressive symptoms. Structural equation modeling confirmatory path analyses were conducted to determine significant relationships between survivors’ depressive symptoms and all other variables. Results Our model fits the data well. Breast cancer survivors’ depressive symptoms were predicted by social constraints and intrusive thoughts. The relationship between survivors’ depressive symptoms and partners’ depressive symptoms was close but not significant. Conclusions As hypothesized, depressive symptoms were predicted by social constraints and intrusive thoughts. Further research is needed to understand the possible relationship between survivors’ long-term depressive symptoms and cognitive avoidance and partners’ depressive symptoms. Our findings highlight the negative impact of social constraints from partners on psychological outcomes in long-term breast cancer survivors.
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    Family Caregiving Challenges in Advanced Colorectal Cancer: Patient and Caregiver Perspectives
    (Springer, 2016-05) Mosher, Catherine E.; Adams, Rebecca N.; Helft, Paul R.; O'Neil, Bert H.; Shahda, Safi; Rattray, Nicholas A.; Champion, Victoria L.; Department of Psychology, School of Science
    Purpose Family caregivers of advanced colorectal cancer patients may be at increased risk for psychological distress. Yet their key challenges in coping with the patient’s illness are not well understood. Soliciting both patient and caregiver perspectives on these challenges would broaden our understanding of the caregiving experience. Thus, the purpose of this research was to identify caregivers’ key challenges in coping with their family member’s advanced colorectal cancer from the perspective of patients and caregivers. Methods Individual, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 23 advanced colorectal cancer patients and 23 primary family caregivers. Interview data were analyzed via thematic analysis. Results In nearly all cases, patient and caregiver reports of the caregiver’s key challenge were discrepant. Across patient and caregiver reports, caregivers’ key challenges included processing emotions surrounding the patient’s initial diagnosis or recurrence and addressing the patient’s practical and emotional needs. Other challenges included coping with continual uncertainty regarding the patient’s potential functional decline and prognosis and observing the patient suffer from various physical symptoms. Conclusions Findings suggest that eliciting the perspectives of both patients and caregivers regarding caregivers’ challenges provides a more comprehensive understanding of their experience. Results also point to the need to assist caregivers with the emotional and practical aspects of caregiving.
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    Long-Term Fear of Recurrence in Young Breast Cancer Survivors and Partners
    (Wiley, 2017-01) Cohee, Andrea A.; Adams, Rebecca N.; Johns, Shelley A.; Von Ah, Diane; Zoppi, Kathleen; Fife, Betsy; Monahan, Patrick O.; Stump, Timothy; Cella, David; Champion, Victoria L.; Department of Nursing, IU School of Nursing
    Background Fear of a breast cancer recurrence is the most prevalent and disruptive source of distress for long-term survivors and their partners. However, few studies have focused on predictors of fear of recurrence. The aim of this study is to test the efficacy of the Social Cognitive Processing Theory (SCPT) in predicting fear of recurrence in long-term breast cancer survivors diagnosed at age 45 years or younger and their partners. Methods In a large cross-sectional study, breast cancer survivors (n = 222) 3–8 years from diagnosis and their partners completed a survey assessing demographic characteristics, fear of recurrence, social constraints, and cognitive processing (intrusive thoughts and cognitive avoidance). Mediation analyses were conducted for survivors and partners separately to determine if cognitive processing would mediate the relationship between social constraints and fear of recurrence. Results Cognitive processing mediated the relationship between social constraints and fear of recurrence both for survivors [F(3,213) = 47.541, R2 = 0.401, p < 0.001] and partners [F(3,215) = 27.917, R2 = 0.280, p < 0.001). Demographic variables were not significant predictors of fear of recurrence. Conclusions As predicted, cognitive processing mediated the relationship between social constraints and fear of recurrence. Results expand the utility of the SCPT in long-term survivors and their partners by supporting its use in intervention design.
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    The Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Social Cognitive Processing in Partners of Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors
    (Oncology Nursing Society, 2017-01) Cohee, Andrea A.; Adams, Rebecca N.; Fife, Betsy L.; Von Ah, Diane M.; Monahan, Patrick O.; Zoppi, Kathleen A.; Cella, David; Champion, Victoria L.; IU School of Nursing
    Purpose/Objectives: To determine 1) if depressive symptoms in partners of long-term breast cancer survivors (BCS) could be predicted by social cognitive processing theory, and 2) if partners of younger and older breast cancer survivors were differentially affected by the cancer experience. Design: A cross-sectional, descriptive study utilizing self-report questionnaires. Setting: Indiana University and 97 ECOG-ACRIN sites. Sample: Partners of breast cancer survivors (n=508) diagnosed 3-8 years prior. Methods: Secondary data mediation analyses were conducted to determine if cognitive processing mediated the relationship between social constraints and depressive symptoms. Age-related differences on all scales were tested. Main Research Variables: Depressive symptoms; secondary variables included social constraints, cognitive processing (avoidance and intrusive thoughts), and potentially confounding variables. Findings: Cognitive processing mediated the relationship between social constraints and depressive symptoms for partners (F(5,498)= 19.911, R2=.167, p<.001). Partners of young BCS reported worse outcomes on all measures than partners of older breast cancer survivors Conclusions: As predicted by the social cognitive processing theory, cognitive processing mediated the relationship between social constraints and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, partners of younger BCS fared worse on social constraints, intrusive thoughts and depressive symptoms than partners of older BCS. Implications for Nursing: Results provide support for using the social cognitive processing theory in intervention design with partners of long-term BCS to decrease depressive symptoms. Knowledge Translation: • Partners of long-term BCS report clinically significant depression. • Partners of younger BCS report higher levels of depressive symptoms than the national average and than partners of older survivors. • Addressing social constraints within the dyad may improve depressive symptoms.