Personality traits as predictors of self-care agency in women with gynecological cancers: Cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background

Gynecological cancers present a dual burden of physiological and psychosocial distress. Self-care agency defined as an individual's capacity to initiate and maintain health-related behaviors is critical for optimizing well-being in cancer patients. While psychological factors, particularly personality traits, are known to influence self-care in chronic illnesses, their role in gynecological oncology remains underexplored. This study aimed to determine whether personality traits predict self-care agency among women with gynecological cancers.

Methods

A descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed with 200 women recruited via convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic form, the Cervantes Personality Scale, and the Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale. Simple linear regression analyses examined the predictive value of personality subscales on self-care agency.

Results

Personality traits were found to be significant predictors of self-care agency. Extroversion, emotional stability, and consistency explained 37.5 %, 20.1 %, and 30.4 % of the variance in self-care agency, respectively (p < 0.05). Women with higher levels of these traits demonstrated greater self-care capacity, while introversion, neuroticism, and inconsistency were linked to reduced self-care agency.

Conclusions

This study highlights the significant role of personality traits in influencing self-care agency in this population. Tailoring supportive care to address individual personality characteristics may improve self-management and overall treatment outcomes. Incorporating psychosocial assessments into routine care and developing targeted interventions could enhance quality of life. Future research should focus on intervention studies to validate these approaches and optimize personalized care strategies in gynecological oncology.