Depression, Stress and Self-Esteem According to Treatment Phase in Patients with Breast Cancer

The purpose of this study was to describe the degree of depression, stress, and self-esteem according to treatment phase in patient with breast cancer in Korea. We also investigate the relationships between depression, stress, and self-esteem in breast cancer patients. The participants were 168 female patients with breast cancer who were inpatients at a university hospital. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaire utilizing the BDI-K scale, the BEPSI-K scale, the Self-esteem scale. Data were analyzed with SPSS WIN 18.0 program for descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, ANOVA, and Scheffe tests. The level of depression and stress were 28.14 ± 12.47 and 3.48 ± 1.15. And the score for self-esteem was 26.29 ± 3.97. The preoperative group had a statistically significantly higher depression compared to other groups (F = 11.687, p < .001). The preoperative group had a statistically significantly higher stress compare to the chemotherapy group (F = 7.953, p = .001). Self-esteem did not show statistical differences among the groups. Depression showed significant correlation with stress (r = .406, p < .001), self-esteem (r = -.425, p < .001). Stress showed significant correlation with self-esteem (r = -.344, p < .001). These results found this study suggest that for the better understanding and help toward the patient of breast cancer. Future nursing research should be directed toward the implementation and evaluation of interventions the increase self-esteem and decrease depression and stress in breast cancer patients.