Network analysis of the intercorrelations between quality of life, trait mindfulness, and mental health among patients with breast cancer
Loan Xuan Kim, Shin Tae Kim, Bich Ngoc Hoang Truong, Dung van Do, Dung Xuan Pham, Jee In Kang, Se Joo Kim, Chun Il Park
Scientific Reports July 8, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-09550-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 196 |
| Population | Breast cancer patients at various treatment phases |
| Measures | European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Distress Thermometer, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Emotional functioning and trait mindfulness were the central nodes in a network of quality-of-life domains, mental health symptoms, and mindfulness, and the network divided into 'mind', 'body', and 'socioeconomic status' communities. The authors argue that the positive correlation between trait mindfulness and emotional functioning suggests cultivating trait mindfulness may be a promising strategy to enhance quality of life in breast cancer patients. |
Abstract
As cancer survival rates have improved, there is growing interest in enhancing patients' quality of life during and after treatment. Quality of life in cancer patients is a multidimensional construct encompassing physical, role, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning, along with physical symptoms and financial concerns. However, the complex interplay among these factors remains poorly understood. Mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and distress, are common in patients with breast cancer and significantly impair quality of life. Trait mindfulness, defined as a tendency toward present-moment awareness, is associated with reduced psychological distress and improved emotional regulation. This study aimed to examine the interrelationships among QoL domains, mental health problems, and trait mindfulness using network analysis. In particular, trait mindfulness was considered a potential factor that may enhance both quality of life and mental health in breast cancer patients. In this cross-sectional study, 196 breast cancer patients completed face-to-face interviews at various treatment phases, using structured questionnaires including the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Distress Thermometer, and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. Network analysis was conducted using a Gaussian Graphical Model optimized via the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator and the Extended Bayesian Information Criterion, with modularity analysis applied to identify community structures. Emotional functioning and trait mindfulness emerged as central nodes, and three distinct communities were identified: mind (emotional and cognitive functioning, depression, anxiety, distress, insomnia, and trait mindfulness), body (physical and role functioning, and physical symptom burden), and socioeconomic status (social functioning and financial difficulty). The positive correlation between trait mindfulness and emotional functioning suggests that cultivating trait mindfulness may be a promising strategy to enhance quality of life in patients with breast cancer.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- Perils and promise in defining and measuring mindfulness: Observations from experience. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- From a state to a trait: Trajectories of state mindfulness in meditation during intervention predict changes in trait mindfulness Personality and Individual Differences July 1, 2015
- Mindful Emotion Regulation: Exploring the Neurocognitive Mechanisms behind Mindfulness. BioMed Research International June 7, 2015
- Psychological and neural mechanisms of trait mindfulness in reducing depression vulnerability. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience June 19, 2012
- Effects of Mindfulness on Psychological Health: A Review of Empirical Studies Clinical Psychology Review May 13, 2011
and 1 more in the library