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Volume 18, Issue 4 (Iranian Journal of Breast Diseases 2026)
ijbd 2026, 18(4): 8-23 |
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Ethics code: IR.IAU.TNB.REC.1401.095
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Faridi M, Lotfi Kashani F, Vaziri S. Validation of a Questionnaire on Cultural Factors Influencing Mental Adjustment to Cancer in Women With Breast Cancer: A Study in the Cultural Context of Iran. ijbd 2026; 18 (4) :8-23
URL: http://ijbd.ir/article-1-1192-en.html
URL: http://ijbd.ir/article-1-1192-en.html
1- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2- Department of Psychology, Medical Science Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran ,lotfi.kashani@gmail.com
3- Department of Psychology, Medical Science Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran
2- Department of Psychology, Medical Science Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran ,
3- Department of Psychology, Medical Science Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran
Abstract: (530 Views)
Introduction: Culture, through its influence on attitudes and coping strategies, plays a decisive role in the mental adjustment of women with breast cancer. However, the absence of a valid, culturally adapted instrument for assessing these dimensions in Iran has limited the advancement of research and the development of psycho-oncology interventions. Therefore, this study aimed to design and validate an indigenous questionnaire to evaluate cultural factors associated with the mental adjustment of Iranian women.
Methods: The cultural factors were previously identified in a qualitative study, and based on those findings, a 72-item questionnaire was developed. Following pilot testing and psychometric analyses, the questionnaire was administered-using a convenience sampling method-to a sample of 530 Iranian women with breast cancer in stages 1, 2, and 3 who were referred to selected treatment centers. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted using the principal components method and Varimax rotation, resulting in the classification of the items into two meaningful conceptual constructs. The psychometric indices of the instrument included a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.954, indicating excellent reliability of the questionnaire.
Results: The cultural dimensions identified in this instrument influenced the mental adjustment of women with breast cancer in two ways: "culture as facilitator" and "culture as barrier". The instrument could represent these dimensions with satisfactory validity and reliability.
Conclusion: However, the study's focus on Iranian women and the use of convenience sampling limit the generalizability of the findings, and this cultural specificity restricts the applicability of the results to non-Iranian populations. Accordingly, future studies should validate this instrument across diverse cultural groups, employ longitudinal designs to examine the stability of cultural dimensions over time, conduct comparisons with international scales, and investigate cultural dimensions across a broader range of psychological indicators to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the role of culture in patients' experiences.
Methods: The cultural factors were previously identified in a qualitative study, and based on those findings, a 72-item questionnaire was developed. Following pilot testing and psychometric analyses, the questionnaire was administered-using a convenience sampling method-to a sample of 530 Iranian women with breast cancer in stages 1, 2, and 3 who were referred to selected treatment centers. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted using the principal components method and Varimax rotation, resulting in the classification of the items into two meaningful conceptual constructs. The psychometric indices of the instrument included a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.954, indicating excellent reliability of the questionnaire.
Results: The cultural dimensions identified in this instrument influenced the mental adjustment of women with breast cancer in two ways: "culture as facilitator" and "culture as barrier". The instrument could represent these dimensions with satisfactory validity and reliability.
Conclusion: However, the study's focus on Iranian women and the use of convenience sampling limit the generalizability of the findings, and this cultural specificity restricts the applicability of the results to non-Iranian populations. Accordingly, future studies should validate this instrument across diverse cultural groups, employ longitudinal designs to examine the stability of cultural dimensions over time, conduct comparisons with international scales, and investigate cultural dimensions across a broader range of psychological indicators to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the role of culture in patients' experiences.
Keywords: Breast cancer, Cultural factors, Iranian women, Instrument development, Mental adjustment, Psycho-oncology
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Nutrition, psychology, sport
Received: 2025/07/2 | Accepted: 2025/10/25 | Published: 2026/01/14
Received: 2025/07/2 | Accepted: 2025/10/25 | Published: 2026/01/14
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