Psychophysiological stress response of newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients with and without risk of metabolic syndrome

Abstract

espanolIntroduccion Es poco lo que se sabe acerca de como afecta a una comorbilidad metabolica a la respuesta al estres durante el cancer de mama (CaMa) tras un diagnostico reciente Objetivo Evaluar las diferencias fisiologicas y psicologicas entre los grupos de CaMa-RSxM y solo con CaMa, y la influencia de las variables psicologicas y la comorbilidad en cuanto a la respuesta al estres. Metodo Estudio no experimental descriptivo-causal comparativo. Participaron 50 pacientes con diagnostico reciente de CaMa (25 en CaMa y 25 en CaMa-RSxM) en un muestreo por conveniencia. Se registraron la actividad muscular frontal y la conductancia de la piel frente a condiciones estresantes. Se aplicaron escalas de calidad de vida, estres percibido y estrategias de afrontamiento. Resultados La presencia de la comorbilidad (p = .001; p = .02), estres percibido (p = .004; p = .03) y la calidad de vida social (p = .01; p = .01) influyeron en la activacion muscular y la conductancia durante el estresor emocional (EE). Poner en perspectiva la situacion estresante como estrategia cognitiva de afrontamiento se relaciono con una disminucion de la activacion (p = .04). El aumento de activacion fisiologica durante el estresor cognitivo (EC) estuvo influido por la comorbilidad (p = .05) y la calidad de vida social (p = .01; p = .01); a su vez, la disminucion lo estuvo por el aumento en los anos de edad (p = .02). Discusion La vulnerabilidad fisiologica, las estrategias de afrontamiento (conductuales y cognitivas) y el aprendizaje previo influyeron en la reaccion resultante surgida durante la situacion estresante. Conclusion Una enfermedad metabolica, como antesala de una oncologica, puede ocasionar vulnerabilidad fisiologica para responder adecuadamente a condiciones estresantes. EnglishIntroduction: little is known about how metabolic comorbidity affects stress response during breast cancer (BRCa) after a recent diagnosis. Objective: to evaluate the physiological and psychological differences between the BRCa-RSxM groups and those with BRCa alone, and the influence of psychological variables and comorbidity in terms of stress response. Method: comparative non-experimental causal-descriptive study. Fifty patients recently diagnosed with BRCa (25 with BRCa and 25 with BRCa-RSxM) in a convenience sample participated. Frontal muscle activity and skin conductance were recorded in response to stressful conditions. Quality of life, perceived stress, and coping strategies scales were used. Results: the presence of comorbidity (p = .001; p = .02), perceived stress (p = .004; p = .03), and social quality of life (p = .01; p = .01) influenced muscle activation and conductance during the emotional stressor (ES). Putting the stressful situation into perspective as a cognitive coping strategy was related to a decrease in activation (p = .04). An increase in physiological activation during the cognitive stressor (CS) was influenced by comorbidity (p = .05) and quality of social life (p = .01; p = .01). In turn, a decrease was influenced by the increase in age (p = .02). Discussion: physiological vulnerability, coping strategies (behavioral and cognitive), and prior learning influenced the resulting reaction during the stressful situation. Conclusion: a metabolic disease, as a prelude to an oncological, may cause physiological vulnerability to respond adequately to stressful conditions.