Comparison of Behavioural Inhibition / Behavioural Activation Systems and Anxiety Sensitivity between People with Breast Cancer and Normal Individuals

Objectives: breast cancer is a kind of disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth, invasion of local tissues, and systematic metastases that causes many social and psychological problems for patients in addition to creating physical problems. It seems that psychological factors are important factors that lead to different responses to anxiety and might be the causes of human mortality due to various diseases, especially breast cancer. Therefore, this research was aimed to compare Behavioural Inhibition and Behavioural Activation Systems and anxiety sensitivity in patients with breast cancer and healthy group. Method: the research was a causal-comparative type in which ۱۵۰ patients with breast cancer referred to Apadana hospital in Tehran from April to June ۲۰۲۱ and ۱۵۰ individuals of the control group from patient's accompaniments were selected by the convenience sampling method. They were investigated by the Behavioural Inhibition and Behavioural Activation Systems scale and anxiety sensitivity index (ASI). Data were analysed by using multivariate analysis of variance and SPSS۲۳ software. Findings: results show that there are statistically significant differences between patients with breast cancer and the healthy group in behavioural inhibition/activation systems and anxiety sensitivity (P<۰.۰۱). Conclusion: Psychological factors can play an important role in the quality of life of people with breast cancer. Therefore, therapists should work on improving the living conditions of this disease during treatment by teaching the best way to deal with anxiety and problem solving.

Keywords:

Behavioural Inhibition System , Behavioural Activation System , Anxiety Sensitivity , Breast cancer.