We examined the effect of a cognitive behavioral stress management
intervention
on serum cortisol in women being treated for Stage I or II breast
cancer.
Participants received a 10-week intervention (n = 24) starting 4-8
weeks
post-surgery or were wait-listed (n = 10). Cortisol was assessed
via radioimmunoassay just before the start of the intervention and
immediately
after its completion. At the same time points, the women reported
the degree to which breast cancer had made positive contributions to
their
lives, among other measures. The intervention increased positive
contributions and lowered serum cortisol (controlling for age,
chemotherapy
status, estradiol change, and menopausal status), whereas control
subjects
experienced neither change. Path analysis suggested that the
intervention’s
effect on cortisol was mediated by increases in positive
contributions.
These findings suggest that benefit finding during a time-limited
intervention
can influence the production of cortisol.
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