Resilience in Recovery: The Interplay of Coping Strategies and Psychological Factors Among Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer (BC) survivorship is associated with significant psychological challenges, including anxiety, stress, and depression. Coping strategies (C-Strats) play a crucial role in influencing psychological well-being (Psych-WB) among survivors, but few studies have explored interconnected factors among BC surviving women in Bahrain, a disadvantaged population. This study thus examines the links between psychological coping and well-being solutions as deployed among women after BC in the Kingdom of Bahrain and to explore variations according to selected demographic characteristics.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. A total of 104 BC survivors attending oncology clinics in governmental hospitals were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Scale, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including t-tests, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation, were performed using SPSS version 28.

Results: Participants demonstrated moderate use of C-Strats, with higher reliance on problem-focused and “emotion-focused coping,” particularly religious coping, and lower use of “avoidant coping.” Psych-WB scores indicated moderate levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. C-Strats did not differ significantly across demographic variables (P > 0.05). However, psychological distress was significantly associated with age (P = 0.035), with younger survivors reporting higher distress levels. A statistically significant moderate negative correlation was found between C-Strats and Psych-WB (r = −0.501, P < 0.001), indicating that higher coping ability was associated with lower psychological distress.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the protective role of C-Strats in reducing psychological distress among BC survivors. Interventions aimed at enhancing adaptive coping, particularly among younger survivors, are recommended to improve Psych-WB.