Testing a model of fear of cancer recurrence or progression: the central role of intrusions, death anxiety and threat appraisal
Abstract
We recently proposed a model of cancer-related anxiety to account for the etiology and maintenance of clinically significant anxiety in the context of cancer. This study tested predictions arising from the model to explain fear of cancer recurrence or progression (FCR). Patients with cancer were recruited from a research registry or outpatient hospital clinics (n = 211). In bivariate analyses, FCR was associated with metacognitive beliefs, intolerance of uncertainty, core belief disruption, less meaning in life, social constraints, death anxiety, intrusions, threat appraisal, and coping. A hierarchical regression explained 65% of the variance in FCR. FCR was predicted by younger age, intrusions, death anxiety, threat appraisal and meta-cognitions. The findings highlight the importance of both cognitive processes and content in FCR, including intrusions, fears about death and dying, beliefs about worry, and threat appraisals.
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FCR is related to high intolerance to uncertainty.
“It is also related to high intolerance to uncertainty [23, 24].”
From Fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer survivors carrying a BRCA1 or 2 genetic mutation : a cross-sectional study (2024) · cites this paper as [23]
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“It is also related to high intolerance to uncertainty [23, 24].”
Background
- Authors
- Curran, L., Sharpe, L., MacCann, C., & Butow, P.
- Affiliations
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Curran, L.
- Venue
- Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Published
- 2020-01-06
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 225-236
- ISSN
- 0160-7715 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3521
- OpenAlex
- W2999562973
- Cited by
- 82
- References
- 77
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 3
- FWCI
- 3.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Behavioral Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- NHMRC post-graduate scholarhsip (1133909)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Cancer-related cognitive impairment studies
- Keywords
- fear of cancer recurrence, tumor progression, cancer-related anxiety, intrusive thoughts, fear of death, threat appraisal, metacognitive beliefs, intolerance of uncertainty, meaning in life, social constraints, coping, worry beliefs
- MeSH terms
- Metacognition, Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Anxiety, Fear, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local, Disease Progression, Uncertainty
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