We conducted three focus groups among Latina breast cancer (BC) survivors (N = 23). The aim was to qualitatively identify how Latina women cope with BC treatment, what emotions arose during their treatment, and if they experienced any medical barriers during their journey. Women were also asked about a potential online resource. Specific emotions of anger and fear were commonly identified but related to different contexts. Family support and spirituality were frequently cited as two positive coping resources during BC and its treatment. Additionally, women expressed what they believe would be essential in an online community that would provide aid with BC support. Given the importance of reaching this vulnerable minority group, we recommend that future studies contextualize Latina women’s emotional experiences and coping skills associated with BC as indicators of well-being. Along with previous studies, this study highlights the importance of developing culturally appropriate interventions. Additionally, we address alternative forms of resources that may be more accessible.
BahramiM.TaleghaniF.LoripoorM.YousefyA. (2015). Positive changes after breast cancer: A qualitative study. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 4, 55. doi:10.4103/2277-9531.162353
3.
BetancourtJ. R.CorbettJ.BondarykM. R. (2014). Addressing disparities and achieving equity: cultural competence, ethics, and health-care transformation. Chest, 145, 143–148. doi:10.1378/chest.13-0634
4.
ChueA. E.GunthertK. C.AhrensA. H.SkalinaL. M. (2017). How does social anger expression predict later depression symptoms? It depends on how often one is angry. Emotion, 17, 6–10. doi:10.1037/emo0000239
5.
CorbinJ. M.StraussA. L. (2015). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
6.
CulverJ. L.ArenaP. L.WimberlyS. R.AntoniM. H.CarverC. S. (2004). Coping among African American, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white women recently treated for early stage breast cancer. Psychological Health, 19, 157–166. doi:10.1080/08870440310001652669
7.
DijkstraM. T. M.HomanA. C. (2016). Engaging in rather than disengaging from stress: Effective coping and perceived control. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1–12. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01415
8.
HillP. L.AllemandM.RobertsB. W. (2013). Examining the Pathways between Gratitude and Self-Rated Physical Health across Adulthood. Personality and individual differences, 54, 92–96. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2012.08.011
9.
HoS. S.SoW. K.LeungD. Y.LaiE. T.ChanC. W. (2013). Anxiety, depression and quality of life in Chinese women with breast cancer during and after treatment: A comparative evaluation. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 17, 877–882. doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2013.04.005
10.
HoldenA. E.RamirezA. G.GallionK. (2014). Depressive symptoms in Latina breast cancer survivors: A barrier to cancer screening. Health Psychology, 33, 242–248. doi:10.1037/a0032685
11.
HornA. B.MaerckerA. (2016). Intra- and interpersonal emotion regulation and adjustment symptoms in couples: The role of co-brooding and co-reappraisal. BMC Psychology, 1, 51. doi:10.1186/s40359-016-0159-7
12.
JuarezG.HurriaA.UmanG.FerrellB. (2013). Impact of a bilingual education intervention on the quality of life of Latina breast cancer survivors. Oncology Nursing Forum, 40, 50–60. doi:10.1188/13.ONF.E50-E60
13.
LaughmanA. B.BoselliD.LoveM.SteuerwaldN.SymanowskiJ.BlackleyK.…RaghavanD. (2017). Outcomes of a structured education intervention for Latinas concerning breast cancer and mammography. Health Education Journal, 4, 442–453. doi:10.1177/001789691761789
14.
LazarusR. S.FolkmanS. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York, NY: Springer.
15.
LeeM. S.TysonD. M.GonzalezB. D.SmallB. J.LechnerS. C.AntoniM. H.…JacobsenP. B. (2018). Anxiety and depression in Spanish-speaking Latina cancer patients prior to starting chemotherapy. Psycho-Oncology, 27, 333–338. doi:10.1002/pon.4462
16.
LiL.YangY.HeJ.YiJ.WangY.ZhangJ.ZhuX. (2015). Emotional suppression and depressive symptoms in women newly diagnosed with early breast cancer. BMC Women’s Health, 15, 91. doi:10.1186/s12905-015-0254-6
17.
LuQ.ManJ.YouJ.LeRoyA. S. (2015). The link between ambivalence over emotional expression and depressive symptoms among Chinese breast cancer survivors. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 79, 153–158. doi:10.1016/j.psychores.2015.01.007
18.
Martinez-RamosG. P.BiggsM. J. G.LozanoY. (2013). Quality of life of Latina breast cancer survivors: From silence to empowerment. Advances in Social Work, 14, 82–101.
19.
MenesesK.Gisiger-CamataS.SchoenbergerY. M.Weech-MaldonadoR.McNeesP. (2015). Adapting an evidence-based survivorship intervention for Latina breast cancer survivors. Women’s Health, 11, 109–119. doi:10.2217/whe.14.65
20.
Nápoles-SpringerA. M.OrtízC.O’BrienH.Díaz-MéndezM. (2009). Developing a culturally competent peer support intervention for Spanish-speaking Latinas with breast cancer. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 4, 268–280. doi:10.1007/s10903-008-9128-4
21.
OttoA. K.SzczesnyE. C.SorianoE. C.LaurenceauJ.-P.SiegelS. D. (2016). Effects of a randomized gratitude intervention on death-related fear of recurrence in breast cancer survivors. Health Psychology, 12, 1320–1328. doi:10.1037/hea0000400
22.
PerezG. K.CruessD. (2014). The impact of familism on physical and mental health among Hispanics in the United States. Health Psychology Review, 8, 95–127. doi:10.1080/17437199.2011.569936
RamiirezA.Perez-StableE.PenedoF.TalaveraG.CarrilloJ. E.FernándezM.…GallionK. (2014). Reducing time-to-treatment in underserved Latinas with breast cancer: The six cities study. Cancer, 5, 752–760. doi:10.1002/cncr.28450
25.
RuiniC.VescovelliF. (2013). The role of gratitude in breast cancer: Its relationships with post-traumatic growth, psychological well-being and distress. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14, 263–274. doi:10.1007/s10902-012-9330-x
26.
SinclairS.HackT. F.Raffin-BouchalS.McClementS.StajduharK.SinghP.…ChochinovH. M. (2018). What are healthcare providers’ understandings and experiences of compassion? The healthcare compassion model: A grounded theory study of healthcare providers in Canada. BMJ Open, 8, 1–13. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-091701
27.
ShiraziM.ShiraziA.BloomJ. (2015). Developing a culturally competent faith-based framework to promote breast cancer screening among Afghan immigrant women. Journal of Religion and Health, 54, 153–159. doi:10.1007/s10943-013-9793-z
28.
van DoornJ.ZeelenbergM.BreugelmansS. M. (2014). Anger and prosocial behavior. Emotion Review, 3, 261–268. doi:10.1177/1754073914523794
29.
WoodA. M.FrohJ. J.GeraghtyA. W. A. (2010). Gratitude and well-being: A review and theoretical integration. Clinical Psychological Review, 30, 890–905. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.005
30.
YooG. J.LevineE. G.PasickR. (2014). Breast cancer and coping among women of color: A systematic review of the literature. Supportive Care in Cancer, 22, 811–824. doi:10.1007/s00520-013-2057-3
31.
YuY.PengL.TangT.ChenL.LiM.WangT. (2014). Effects of emotion regulation and general self-efficacy on posttraumatic growth in Chinese cancer survivors: Assessing the mediating effect of positive affect. Psycho-Oncology, 23, 473–478. doi:10.1002/pon.3434.
