Psychosocial Aspects of Female Breast Cancer: a Literature Review

Authors

  • Tereza Cristina Santos de Araújo Centro Universitário FACEX
  • Brenda de Andrade Rodrigues Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
  • Rodrigo da Silva Maia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
  • Eulália Maria Chaves Maia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18316/2317-8582.16.38

Keywords:

Breast cancer, Psychosocial impact, Review

Abstract

Objective: To analyze in Brazilian literature the psychosocial aspects of breast cancer in women.

Methods: A review of the literature was carried out. A research was made through articles available at SCIELO, LILACS and MEDLINE, using keywords such as “psychology”, “breast cancer”, “breast neoplasm(s)”. The research was made on May 2016 and involved publications from January 2011 through December 2015.

Results: A total of 11.399 articles were found. After applying the criteria for the selection, a set of 12 articles remained for the evaluation. In general, the psychosocial aspects of breast cancer found were found to be: stress, social support, coping, quality of life, sleep, emotional symptoms, sexuality, reformulations of life projects and reflexions about death and dying, which appear as a mechanism of risk and protection for the management of the health-disease process.

Conclusions: The present review summarizes that the experience of female breast cancer is permeated by diverse social aspects that generate impact in women’s life and those around her. Such data highlight the need for an integral and humanized assistance focused on this group.

Author Biographies

Tereza Cristina Santos de Araújo, Centro Universitário FACEX

Graduanda em Psicologia pelo Centro Universitário FACEX (UNIFACEX).

Brenda de Andrade Rodrigues, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Graduanda em Fisioterapia pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN).

Rodrigo da Silva Maia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Doutorando pelo Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia (PPGPsi) da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). Docente do curso de Psicologia do Centro Universitário FACEX (UNIFACEX).

Eulália Maria Chaves Maia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Professora Titular do Departamento de Psicologia da da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). Docente dos Programas de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde (PPGCSa) e Psicologia (PPGPsi).

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Published

2016-11-25

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2016)

Section

Artigos de Revisão

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