Posttraumatic growth in women with breast cancer: emotional regulation mediates satisfaction with basic needs and maladaptive schemas

Background: Despite the negative consequences of breast cancer, many women experience positive changes after diagnosis. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the mediating role of emotion regulation between post-traumatic growth (PTG), satisfaction of basic needs and maladaptive schemas. Method: A total of 210 female patients diagnosed with breast cancer for at least six months were assessed using measures of the PTG Inventory, Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale, Young Schema Questionnaire–Short Form, and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. The collected data was analysed using structural equation modelling by SPSS and Amos 23.0. Results: Basic needs and maladaptive schema paths to emotion regulation and PTG, and emotion regulation path to PTG were significant. In addition, maladaptive schemas path to emotion regulation was insignificant. Conclusion: The current results show that focusing on satisfaction of basic needs and using positive emotion regulation strategies positively affect PTG. Additionally, activating maladaptive schemas and using negative emotion regulation strategies have a negative effect on PTG.