Improvement in quality of life and psychological well-being associated with a culturally based psychosocial intervention for Chinese American breast cancer survivors

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate improvements in quality of life and psychological well-being among Chinese American breast cancer survivors who participated in a pilot community education and peer-mentor support program. Methods One hundred and twenty-nine Chinese American breast cancer survivors who recently completed treatment participated in eight cohorts of the program, Joy Luck Academy, which included weekly education and peer-mentor support sessions. The education sessions covered topics designed to help participants adjust to new life after breast cancer treatment. The peer-mentor support component was designed to provide social support. Quality of life and psychological well-being (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety, and low- and high-arousal positive and negative affect) were assessed at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Results Paired samples t tests indicated improvements in quality of life, low- and high-arousal positive affect, and reductions in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and low-arousal negative affect. Conclusion Our findings suggest that a psychosocial group intervention may improve quality of life and psychological well-being among Chinese American breast cancer survivors. Our intervention has the potential to be applied to other ethnic-minority cancer survivors. Future randomized controlled trials are warranted.