The Effectiveness of Positive Thinking Training on Perceived Stress, Meta-cognitive Beliefs and Death Anxiety in Women with Breast Cancer

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of positive thinking training on perceived stress, metacognitive beliefs, and death anxiety in women with breast cancer. The research method was experimental (pre-test-post-test design with an equal control group). The sample consisted of 30 women with breast cancer who were selected by convenience sampling. Then, from the sample, 15 women with breast cancer were randomly assigned to the experimental group and 15 women with breast cancer to the control group. The research instruments included Cohen et al.'s (1983) Perceived Stress Questionnaire, the Wells Metacognitive Beliefs Questionnaire (2004), and the Templer Death Anxiety Questionnaire (1970). Multivariate and univariate covariance methods were used to analyze the data. The results of data analysis showed that positive thinking training reduced perceived stress, metacognitive beliefs, and death anxiety in women with breast cancer in the experimental group compared to the control group (p <0.001). As a result, it can be said that positive thinking training with positive thinking techniques is effective in reducing perceived stress, metacognitive beliefs, and death anxiety in women with breast cancer.

Keywords

• positive thinking training
• perceived stress
• meta cognitive beliefs
• death anxiety.