This research examined the role of personality and temperament as predictors of mortality among patients with breast cancer. A prospective evaluation of the influence of personality and temperament on patient survival was conducted over an average 5-year period. The whole group consisted of 126 breast cancer patients. At a follow-up 24 patients had died. All patients were tested with NEO-FFI (personality assessment) and FCB-TI (questionnaire for temperament assessment by Strelau). Other medical and demographic factors were controlled. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of 5 dimensions of personality and 6 dimensions of temperament. Other predictors of survival were also controlled. Agreeableness, emotional reactivity and sensory sensitivity were strong predictors of survival. Their relationships with helplessness/hopelessness are also analyzed. These findings suggest that some of the temperamental and personality characteristics could serve as important factors in the course of breast cancer.
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