Prevalence and correlates of hopelessness in Tunisian women with benign breast disease and breast cancer

Background There is limited research suggesting that women with Benign Breast Disease (BBD) experience psychological distress similar to breast cancer (BC) women. We aimed to examine hopelessness and its related factors in BC and BBD women. Method This was a cross-sectional study. The Beck Hopelessness Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory were administered to 51 BBD and 52 BC women. Results BC women had higher hopelessness scores as compared to those with BBD (6.9 +/- 4.8 vs. 4.9 +/- 3.6; p = .018). After controlling for confounding variables, depression and suicidal ideation/behavior were significantly associated with hopelessness in the BBD group, while only a lower socioeconomic status was associated with higher hopelessness scores in the BC group. Conclusion We found that not only BC but also BBD lead to a psychological burden. Early detection and handling of hopeless feelings and thoughts that may arise in this population are recommended.