Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Mother-daughter communication about breast cancer risk: interpersonal and biological stress processes

  • Published:
Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Women with a personal or maternal history of breast cancer experience psychological stress in relation to breast cancer risk, and adolescent and young adult daughters are particularly at risk for experiencing stress related to their mothers’ history of breast cancer. The current study examined interpersonal and biological stress responses during a laboratory-based communication task about breast cancer risk in 32 mother-daughter dyads and explores whether certain communication styles between mothers and daughters are associated with increased stress reactivity during the task. Five saliva samples were collected from each participant to determine cortisol baseline levels, reactivity to, and recovery from the task. Negative maternal communication was associated with higher cortisol levels in daughters. In addition, maternal sadness was correlated with lower levels of daughters’ cortisol at all time points with the exception of baseline measures. Implications for understanding the psychobiology of stress in women at risk for breast cancer are highlighted.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Cancer Society. (2011). Detailed guide: breast cancer. An Online Guide by The American Cancer Society. Retrieved April 19, 2012 from www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/DetailedGuide/.

  • Antoni, M. H., Lechner, S., Diaz, A., Vargas, S., Holley, H., Phillips, K., et al. (2009). Cognitive behavioral stress management effects on psychosocial and physiological adaptation in women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 23, 580–591.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R. T., Fuemmeler, B., Anderson, D., Jamieson, S., Simonian, S., Hall, R. K., et al. (2007). Adjustment of children and their mothers with breast cancer. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 32, 297–308.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chalmers, K., Thompson, K., & Degner, L. F. (1996). Information, support, and communication needs of women with a family history of breast cancer. Cancer Nursing, 19, 204–213.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, M., Klein, E., Kuten, A., Fried, G., Zinder, O., & Pollack, S. (2002). Increased emotional distress in daughters of breast cancer patients is associated with decreased natural cytotoxic activity, elevated levels of stress hormones and decreased secretion of Th1 cytokines. International Journal of Cancer, 100, 347–354.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, M., & Pollack, S. (2005). Mothers with breast cancer and their adult daughters: The relationship between mothers’ reaction to breast cancer and their daughters’ emotional and neuroimmune status. Psychosomatic Medicine, 67, 64–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Compas, B. E., Worsham, N. L., Epping-Jordan, J. E., Grant, K. E., Mireault, G., Howell, D. C., et al. (1994). When mom or dad has cancer: Markers of psychological distress in cancer patients, spouses, and children. Health Psychology, 13, 507–515.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dickerson, S. S., & Kemeny, M. E. (2004). Acute stressors and cortisol responses: A theoretical integration and synthesis of laboratory research. Psychological Bulletin, 130, 355–391.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Lang, A.-G., & Buchner, A. (2007). G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods, 39, 175–191.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gold, S. M., Zakowski, S. G., Valdimarsdottir, H. B., & Bovbjerg, D. H. (2003). Stronger endocrine responses after brief psychological stress in women at familial risk of breast cancer. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 28, 584–593.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gortner, E. M., Rude, S. S., & Pennebaker, J. W. (2006). Benefits of expressive writing in lowering rumination and depressive symptoms. Behavior Therapy, 37, 292–303.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, K. E., & Compas, B. E. (1995). Stress and symptoms of anxiety/depression among adolescents: Searching for mechanisms of risk. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63, 1015–1021.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Irwin, M. R. (2008). Human psychoneuroimmunology: 20 years of discovery. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 22, 129–139.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • James, G. D., Berge-Landry Hv, H., Valdimarsdottir, H. B., Montgomery, G. H., & Bovbjerg, D. H. (2004). Urinary catecholamine levels in daily life are elevated in women at familial risk of breast cancer. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 29, 831–838.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Juster, R. P., McEwen, B. S., & Lupien, S. J. (2010). Allostatic load biomarkers of chronic stress and impact on health and cognition. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 35, 2–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller, M. C., Neale, M. C., & Kendler, K. S. (2007). Association of different adverse life events with distinct patterns of depressive symptoms. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164, 1521–1529.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Glaser, R., Cacioppo, J. T., MacCallum, R. C., Snydersmith, M., Kim, C., et al. (1997). Marital conflict in older adults: Endocrinological and immunological correlates. Psychosomatic Medicine, 59, 339–349.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, Y., Valdimarsdottir, H. B., & Bovbjerg, D. H. (2003). Family histories of breast cancer, coping styles, and psychological adjustment. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 26, 225–243.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kirschbaum, C., Pirke, K. M., & Hellhammer, D. H. (1993). The ‘Trier Social Stress Test’—a tool for investigating psychobiological stress responses in a laboratory setting. Neuropsychobiology, 28, 76–81.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levenson, R. W., Carstensen, L. L., & Gottman, J. M. (1994). The influence of age and gender on affect, physiology, and their interrelations: A study of long-term marriages. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 56–68.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lichtman, R. R., Taylor, S. E., & Wood, J. V. (1987). Social support and marital adjustment after breast cancer. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 5, 47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melby, J. N., & Conger, R. D. (1993). The Iowa interaction rating scales. Iowa Youth and Families Project: Iowa State University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melby, J. N., & Conger, R. D. (2001). The Iowa family interaction rating scales: Instrument summary. In P. Kerig & K. Lindahl (Eds.), Family observational coding systems: Resources for systematic research (pp. 33–58). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papp, L. M., Pendry, P., & Adam, E. K. (2009). Mother-adolescent physiological synchrony in naturalistic settings: Within-family cortisol associations and moderators. Journal of Family Psychology, 23, 882–903.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reuter, M. A., & Conger, R. D. (1995a). Antecedents of parent-adolescent disagreements. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 57, 435–448.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reuter, M. A., & Conger, R. D. (1995b). Interaction style, problem-solving behavior, and family problem-solving effectiveness. Child Development, 66, 98–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richards, J. M., & Gross, J. J. (1999). Composure at any cost? The cognitive consequences of emotion suppression. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 25, 1033–1044.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robles, T. F., Shaffer, V. A., Malarkey, W. B., & Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (2006). Positive behaviors during marital conflict: Influences on stress hormones. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 23, 305–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spira, M., & Kenemore, E. (2000). Adolescent daughters of mothers with breast cancer: Impact and implications. Clinical Social Work Journal, 28, 183–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. E. (2005, August). Why do people tend and befriend under stress? A biosocial approach. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

  • Taylor, S. E. (2006). Tend and befriend: Biobehavioral bases of affiliation under stress. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 15, 273–277.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thorton, L. M., Andersen, B. L., Schuler, T. A., & Carson, W. E. (2009). A psychological intervention reduces inflammatory markers by alleviating depressive symptoms: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Psychosomatic Medicine, 71, 715–724.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valdimarsdottir, H. B., Zakowski, S. G., Gerin, W., Mamakos, J., Pickering, T., & Bovbjerg, D. H. (2002). Heightened psychobiological reactivity to laboratory stressors in healthy women at familial risk for breast cancer. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 25, 51–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weichold, K., Buttig, S., & Silbereisen, R. K. (2008). Effects of pubertal timing on communication behaviors and stress reactivity in young women during conflict discussions with their mothers. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37, 1123–1133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wellisch, D. K., Gritz, E. R., Schain, W., Wang, H. J., & Siau, J. (1992). Psychological functioning of daughters of breast cancer patients. Part II: Characterizing the distressed daughter of the breast cancer patient. Psychosomatics, 33, 171–179.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Peabody 552, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA

    Kate L. Berlin, Charissa Andreotti, Fiona Yull, Ana M. Grau & Bruce E. Compas

Authors
  1. Kate L. Berlin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Charissa Andreotti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fiona Yull
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ana M. Grau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Bruce E. Compas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bruce E. Compas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Berlin, K.L., Andreotti, C., Yull, F. et al. Mother-daughter communication about breast cancer risk: interpersonal and biological stress processes. J Behav Med 36, 328–339 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-012-9418-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-012-9418-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation