SELF-ESTEEM, PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING AND LOCUS OF CONTROL AMONG BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

The present study aimed to explore the interrelationship among self-esteem, psychological wellbeing and locus of control; to find out the demographic differences on these variables among breast cancer patients. Rosenberg SelfEsteem Scale, Psychological Wellbeing Scale, and The Locus of Control Scale were administered on the purposive sample of 150 breast cancer women in different cities of Pakistan. Two age groups were taken (25-35 years; younger patients) and (36-50 years; older patients), with different educational levels (above F.A.) and (below F.A.), on the basis of tenure of illness (I & II; early stages) and (III & IV; advanced stages). The correlational data found significant positive correlation of self-esteem with psychological wellbeing and locus of control. Significant positive correlation of older women was found with self-esteem and internal locus of control, and of younger women with external locus of control. Significant educational differences demonstrated high self-esteem, psychological wellbeing and internal locus of control in women with high qualification. Significant negative correlation of breast cancer stages found with self-esteem, psychological wellbeing and for locus of control, early staged (I & II) women have higher level of Internal Locus of Control, and advanced staged (III & IV) women have higher level of External Locus of Control. The study will help out in mounting ways through which clinicians or therapists can educate patients to combat the stressful psychological effects of this chronic illness