Associations of personality profiles with stress and resilience characteristics among patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy.
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OBJECTIVE: The relationship between personality and stress and resilience has been relatively underexplored among patients undergoing chemotherapy (CTX). This study investigated these associations in adults undergoing CTX for solid tumors. METHODS: In this observational study, 1,248 patients receiving CTX for breast, gastrointestinal, gynecological, or lung cancer, completed the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) measures of life stress (Life Stressor Checklist-Revised; LSC-R; exposure and affected scores), cancer-related distress (Impact of Event Scale-Revised; IES-R), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale; PSS), and resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale; CD-RISC-10). Differences among three (previously described) latent personality profiles (i.e., Distressed, Normative, Resilient) in stress and resilience characteristics were examined using ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, or chi-square tests. RESULTS: The Distressed class reported significantly higher IES-R total and subscale scores, higher PSS scores, and greater affected (but not total) LSC-R scores than both other classes (all p < .001). The Resilient class demonstrated the lowest cancer-related distress and perceived stress, and the highest CD-RISC-10 scores, compared to Normative and Distressed classes (all p < .001). Although total number of life stressors differed only between Distressed and Resilient groups, the perceived impact of specific stressors (e.g., childhood abuse, financial hardship) was greater in the Distressed class. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct personality profiles, as defined by Big Five dimensions, are strongly associated with differential levels of cancer-related distress, perceived stress, and resilience among CTX patients. Identification of individuals with "Distressed" personality profiles may facilitate early identification of patients who could benefit from early psychosocial assessment or interventions.