Effects of Psychosocial Interventions on Measures of Stress Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND: With 4 million breast cancer survivors (BCSs) in the United States, researchers are interested in mitigating the effects of stress after cancer diagnosis. This stress can affect immune and endocrine systems, elevating cancer risk and affecting survival rates. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review investigated the impact of psychosocial intervention measures on stress in BCS. The findings will pave the way for further replication studies and help establish the most effective interventions for mitigating stress in BCS. INTERVENTIONS/METHODS: We conducted a systematic search in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Web of Science databases from their inception to December 2023. Twenty-six randomized controlled trials encompassing 2771 patients with breast cancer were selected for a comprehensive review and analysis. RESULTS: The main findings showed a significant impact of cognitive-behavioral stress management, Iyengar yoga, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and relaxation/guided imagery on inflammatory biomarkers, such as salivary cortisol (n = 10), TNFα levels (n = 3), and CD3+ T cells (n = 2). Regarding perceived stress, yoga showed a significant decrease in perceived stress, depression, and anxiety in the BCS group (n = 3). Mindfulness-based stress reduction (n = 2) and cognitive-behavioral stress management (n = 3) also showed a significant reduction in stress symptoms in the experimental group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: This review consolidates the existing knowledge and highlights the potential of psychosocial interventions to improve the lives of BCSs. IMPLICATIONS FOR ONCOLOGY NURSING PRACTICE: By addressing the identified research gaps, future studies can further optimize these interventions to ensure more effective and personalized care for BCS.