An Ecologic Model for Identifying Coping Resources to Manage Psychological Distress Among Spanish-Speaking Latina Women Newly Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

Objectives: To examine associations of coping resources for psychological distress among newly diagnosed Spanish-speaking Latina women with breast cancer (LWBC).

Sample & Setting: Analyses used baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of a stress management intervention among 151 LWBC.

Methods & Variables: Dependent variables were health distress and anxiety. Coping resources at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and organizational/community levels were included.

Results: At the intrapersonal level, self-efficacy for coping with breast cancer treatment was associated inversely with health distress and anxiety, and coping confidence with general problems was associated inversely with health distress. At the interpersonal level, having a sense of neighborhood cohesion was associated inversely with health distress. No organizational/community level resources were associated with health distress or anxiety.

Implications for Nursing: Interventions that enhance self-efficacy in coping and foster skills to identify sources of neighborhood support may decrease psychological distress for Spanish-speaking LWBC.