Psychological Aspects Associated With Fertility Preservation in Oncology: An Exploratory Study
ObjectiveGonadotoxicity is considered one of the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment. Although fertility preservation can be a valid solution, it also involves a challenging process. A clear understanding of the features of women who decide to pursue fertility preservation after cancer...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.608651/full |
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| author | Valentina Elisabetta Di Mattei Valentina Elisabetta Di Mattei Gaia Perego Paola Maria Vittoria Rancoita Paola Maria Vittoria Rancoita Paola Taranto Letizia Carnelli Giorgia Mangili Veronica Sarais Alice Bergamini Massimo Candiani Massimo Candiani |
| author_facet | Valentina Elisabetta Di Mattei Valentina Elisabetta Di Mattei Gaia Perego Paola Maria Vittoria Rancoita Paola Maria Vittoria Rancoita Paola Taranto Letizia Carnelli Giorgia Mangili Veronica Sarais Alice Bergamini Massimo Candiani Massimo Candiani |
| author_sort | Valentina Elisabetta Di Mattei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveGonadotoxicity is considered one of the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment. Although fertility preservation can be a valid solution, it also involves a challenging process. A clear understanding of the features of women who decide to pursue fertility preservation after cancer diagnosis is missing. The purpose of the present study was therefore to analyze the personality profile of female patients referred to oncofertility prior to gonadotoxic treatment.MethodsFifty-two female cancer patients took part in the study. The Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R), the Response Evaluation Measure-71 (REM-71), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y Form (STAI-Y) were administered to examine personality characteristics, defense mechanisms, depression and anxiety symptoms.ResultsCompared with reference data of the Italian population, our sample reported significantly lower scores in Harm Avoidance and trait anxiety, and significantly higher levels of mature defense mechanisms. Most of the patients reported low scores in immature defense mechanisms, depression, and trait anxiety, and medium scores in state anxiety.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that these women display functional personality traits and defensive style, in association with low levels of depression and trait anxiety. These features may enable a proactive attitude to cancer and the ability to make long-term plans. This may favor psychological adjustment to cancer and a projection toward the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T05:20:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-142a7cd648cd4b408da296d052a61456 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T05:20:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-142a7cd648cd4b408da296d052a614562022-12-21T23:15:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782020-12-011110.3389/fpsyg.2020.608651608651Psychological Aspects Associated With Fertility Preservation in Oncology: An Exploratory StudyValentina Elisabetta Di Mattei0Valentina Elisabetta Di Mattei1Gaia Perego2Paola Maria Vittoria Rancoita3Paola Maria Vittoria Rancoita4Paola Taranto5Letizia Carnelli6Giorgia Mangili7Veronica Sarais8Alice Bergamini9Massimo Candiani10Massimo Candiani11Division of Neuroscience, Clinical and Health Psychology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, ItalySchool of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, ItalyUniversity Centre for Statistics in the Biomedical Sciences (CUSSB), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, ItalySchool of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, ItalyDivision of Neuroscience, Clinical and Health Psychology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, ItalyDivision of Neuroscience, Clinical and Health Psychology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, ItalyObstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, ItalyObstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, ItalyObstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, ItalySchool of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, ItalyObstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, ItalyObjectiveGonadotoxicity is considered one of the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment. Although fertility preservation can be a valid solution, it also involves a challenging process. A clear understanding of the features of women who decide to pursue fertility preservation after cancer diagnosis is missing. The purpose of the present study was therefore to analyze the personality profile of female patients referred to oncofertility prior to gonadotoxic treatment.MethodsFifty-two female cancer patients took part in the study. The Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R), the Response Evaluation Measure-71 (REM-71), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y Form (STAI-Y) were administered to examine personality characteristics, defense mechanisms, depression and anxiety symptoms.ResultsCompared with reference data of the Italian population, our sample reported significantly lower scores in Harm Avoidance and trait anxiety, and significantly higher levels of mature defense mechanisms. Most of the patients reported low scores in immature defense mechanisms, depression, and trait anxiety, and medium scores in state anxiety.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that these women display functional personality traits and defensive style, in association with low levels of depression and trait anxiety. These features may enable a proactive attitude to cancer and the ability to make long-term plans. This may favor psychological adjustment to cancer and a projection toward the future.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.608651/fullanxietydefense mechanismsdepressionfertility preservationoncologypersonality |
| spellingShingle | Valentina Elisabetta Di Mattei Valentina Elisabetta Di Mattei Gaia Perego Paola Maria Vittoria Rancoita Paola Maria Vittoria Rancoita Paola Taranto Letizia Carnelli Giorgia Mangili Veronica Sarais Alice Bergamini Massimo Candiani Massimo Candiani Psychological Aspects Associated With Fertility Preservation in Oncology: An Exploratory Study Frontiers in Psychology anxiety defense mechanisms depression fertility preservation oncology personality |
| title | Psychological Aspects Associated With Fertility Preservation in Oncology: An Exploratory Study |
| title_full | Psychological Aspects Associated With Fertility Preservation in Oncology: An Exploratory Study |
| title_fullStr | Psychological Aspects Associated With Fertility Preservation in Oncology: An Exploratory Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychological Aspects Associated With Fertility Preservation in Oncology: An Exploratory Study |
| title_short | Psychological Aspects Associated With Fertility Preservation in Oncology: An Exploratory Study |
| title_sort | psychological aspects associated with fertility preservation in oncology an exploratory study |
| topic | anxiety defense mechanisms depression fertility preservation oncology personality |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.608651/full |
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