Abstract In breast cancer patients, quality of life has been associated with treatment response and overall survival. One hundred women undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer completed questionnaires including demographic and clinical information, the EORTC - Quality of Life Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales, Body Image Scale, Index of Family Relations and the Life Orientation Test. The results showed that higher optimism and better body image were associated with improved quality of life. Distress significantly predicted physical and emotional quality of life, but recurrence only predicted physical quality of life. Family stress was a moderator in the relationship between psychological distress and emotional quality of life, showing the need to screen and intervene on family stress in patients with breast cancer. The results may help in designing interventions for women with breast cancer in order to promote quality of life.

Resumen En pacientes con cáncer de mama, la calidad de vida se ha asociado con la respuesta al tratamiento y la supervivencia global. Cien mujeres sometidas a tratamiento de quimioterapia para el cáncer de mama completaron cuestionarios incluyendo información demográfica y clínica, Cuestionario de Calidad de Vida EORTC, Escalas de Ansiedad y Depresión Hospitalaria, Escala de Imagen Corporal, Índice de Relaciones Familiares y el Test de Orientación Vital. Los resultados mostraron que un mayor optimismo y una mejor imagen corporal se asociaron con una mejor calidad de vida. La morbilidad psicológica predijo significativamente la calidad de vida física y emocional, pero la recurrencia sólo predijo la calidad de vida física. El estrés familiar fue un moderador en la relación entre la morbilidad psicológica y la calidad de vida emocional, mostrando la necesidad de detectar e intervenir en el estrés familiar en pacientes con cáncer de mama. Los resultados pueden ayudar en el diseño de intervenciones para las mujeres con cáncer de mama con el fin de promover la calidad de vida.

Pretendeu-se conhecer a relação entre apego aos pais, características das relações românticas, sintomatologia física, estilo de vida e morbilidade psicológica em 250 estudantes universitários, entre os 17 e 29 anos, que responderam a instrumentos de auto relato. Concluiu-se que o apego aos pais nos jovens adultos se relaciona com a sintomatologia física, a morbilidade psicológica e características das relações amorosas. O envolvimento numa relação romântica reflecte-se na saúde, estando associado ao estilo de vida saudável e menos sintomas físicos. Exploraram-se os preditores da sintomatologia física e estilo de vida, e analisou-se a influência do sexo, tipo de família e nível socioeconómico nas variáveis em estudo. Assim, podem retirar-se implicações para o desenvolvimento de intervenções com jovens e pais.

This study focused on the understanding of the relationship among attachment to parents, characteristics of romantic relationships, physical symptoms, lifestyle and psychological morbidity in 250 university students, aged between 17 and 29 years (M=20.88; SD=2.03), who answered self-report questionnaires. We concluded that attachment to parents for young adults is related to physical symptoms, psychological morbidity and characteristics of romantic relationships. Being in a romantic relationship has effects on health, since it is related to a healthier lifestyle and less physical symptoms. We explored the predictors of physical symptoms and lifestyle, and analyzed the influence of sex, type of family and socioeconomic status on the variables studied. As a result, implications can be drawn to develop interventions with youngsters and parents.