Effect of emotional competences on cancer emotional adjustment and quality of life of patients

Abstract

Background Our aim was to investigate the effects of intrapersonal and interpersonal emotional competences (identification, understanding, expression, regulation and use of one’s own emotions and those of others) of patients on their emotional adjustment (anxiety, depression) and their quality of life (functioning variables). Methods 76 cancer patients (24% head and neck cancer, 38% gynecological cancer, 38% gastrointestinal cancer) have completed the self-reported questionnaires. Results Multiple Regression Analyses revealed that emotional competences, mostly intrapersonal competences, predict anxiety and functioning. Complex intrapersonal competences reported more effects than simple ones (identification, understanding): emotional regulation had a beneficial effect while the use of emotions showed a detrimental effect on anxiety and functioning. Interpersonal expression improved social functioning. Discussion These results strengthen the value of integrating emotional competences in health models and psychosocial interventions. It seems important to target intrapersonal regulation and interpersonal expression in interventions to improve adjustment and quality of life of patients. On the contrary, it might be better to avoid use of emotions in a cancer setting, but further investigation is warranted to better understand this puzzling deleterious effect.