Trait emotional intelligence, general distress and life satisfaction in breast cancer patients: The mediation role of post-traumatic stress disorder

Track: Intervention Research & Clinical Studies Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are often experienced in individuals with breast cancer (Mehnert & Koch, 2006) Objectives: This study aims to assess whether the relationship between trait EI and life satisfaction, and between trait EI and general distress, would be mediated by PTSD, in individuals with breast cancer. Method: 245 individuals with breast cancer by at least 1 year, aged between 31 and 83 years old (M = 53.89; SD = 9.26), filled an online survey. A structural equation modelling (SEM) with latent variables was used to test a model with trait EI as predictor variable, PTSD as mediator, general distress as first outcome, and life satisfaction as second outcome. Results: The model showed good fit indices: χ2(48) = 88.52, p < .001; CFI = .98, RMSEA = .06 (90% CI = .04 – .08), SRMR = .04. Significant paths were found from trait EI to PTSD (β = –.49), to general distress (β = –.21), and to life satisfaction (β = .48), as well as from PTSD to general distress (β = .76) and to life satisfaction (β = –.20). Furthermore, the indirect associations between trait EI and general distress through PTSD (β = –.37), and between trait EI and life satisfaction through PTSD (β = .10), were statistically significant. Conclusion: The implementation of trait EI programs may reduce PTSD symptoms, improving well-being in individuals with breast cancer (Ha, Jung, Choi, 2014; Chen et al., 2021).