The relationship between breast cancer anxiety and mammography: Experiential avoidance as a moderator

Sarah J. Miller, Erin L. O'hea, Jennifer Block Lerner, Simon Moon, Kelly A. Foran-Tuller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although mammography can aid in the early detection and prevention of breast cancer, many women do not receive annual mammograms. It remains unclear whether anxiety about breast cancer inhibits or promotes mammography rates. The way in which women regulate their anxiety (ie, level of experiential avoidance) may play a role in predicting mammography adherence. A community sample of women (N = 84) completed a questionnaire which assessed mammography rates, experiential avoidance, and breast cancer anxiety. The results suggest that, while controlling for breast cancer anxiety, experiential avoidance (β =.31, p <.01) significantly predicted mammography rates. When examining experiential avoidance as a moderator, a multiple regression analysis approached significance (R 2Δ =.04, p =.07), suggesting that a woman's level of experiential avoidance influences the relationship between anxiety and mammography. These findings will help enable health care practitioners to better identify women at risk of non-adherence to mammography recommendations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)113-118
Number of pages6
JournalBehavioral Medicine
Volume37
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2011

Keywords

  • anxiety
  • breast cancer
  • experiential avoidance
  • mammography

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