The mediating role of attribution style between psychological predictors and resilience in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: This study examined how attribution style mediates the relationship between psychological predictors and resilience in recently diagnosed women with breast cancer.

Methods: In total, 287 patients participated in this cross-sectional study. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to identify the relationships between the above-mentioned variables. Multiple linear regression was utilized to examine the psychological factors that predicted resilience. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to identify the mediating effects of attribution style on the relationship between psychological predictors and resilience.

Results: Resilience was positively correlated with attribution style (r = 0.63), life attitude (r = 0.67), and confrontation coping (r = 0.56) and negatively correlated with resignation coping (r = -0.60). The predictors of resilience were life attitude (B = 0.26; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20, 0.32; p < 0.001), attribution style (1.04 [0.53, 1.54], p < 0.001), confrontation coping (0.25 [0.09, 0.41], p = 0.003), and resignation coping (-0.26 [-0.48, -0.03], p = 0.026). The three SEM models consistently demonstrated significant direct, indirect, and total effects of life attitude and coping style (confrontation or resignation) on resilience. Attribution style played a significant mediating role in life attitude, coping style (confrontation or resignation), and resilience.

Conclusion: Attribution style was found to be a key mediator linking life attitude, coping style, and resilience. Interventions aimed at adjusting attribution style should be developed by considering the positive influences of life attitude and coping style on resilience in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.