Predictors of anticipatory anxiety in women attending a second stage breast cancer screening

Abstract

This study examined the predictive power of hypochondriacal attitudes, demographics (age, income, educational level, marital status, children, and rural vs. urban area) and other moderating variables (neuroticism, multidimensional health locus of control, self-esteem, and social support) on anticipatory anxiety in women (45-65 years old) following a “false positive” breast cancer screening result. Lineal and logistic regression analyses were used to study the effects of independent variables on anticipatory anxiety associated with attendance to the second stage screening. Consistent with our predictions, hypochondriacal attitude was the best predictor of anticipatory anxiety. Illness attitude scales that correspond to the “disease unrealistic fear” dimension (disease phobia, thanatophobia) were better predictors than those describing the “conviction of having a disease” (hypochondriacal beliefs, effects of symptoms, etc.). Other significant predictors were neuroticism and chance health locus of control. No significant effects were found to self-esteem, social support and demographics variables. Finally, findings suggest that predictive power of hypochondriacal attitude on anticipatory anxiety is better for women attending second stage screening than for those attending routine screening.