Self-examination of breast under personal and psychologic aspects. (Psychometric studies of 533 women)
Wenderlein, J.M.
Zentralblatt für Gynakologie 100(17): 1134-1141
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-4197 PMID: 716684 Document Number: 129300
A psychometric study conducted among 533 women tested for statistical significance of personality traits (FPI) between selfexaminations of the breast and the attitude to examinations performed by physicians. --I. Introverts (FPI-E) performed selfexaminations with only half the frequency of extroverts (p less than 0,01). One fifth of the women with personality traits of introversion believed that screening examinations for detection of breast cancer performed by physicians are of lesser importance as did women with personality traits of extroversion (p less than 0,01). The later group believed that breast has significance in cosmetic appearance (p less than 0,05) and sexual value (p less than 0,05). Introverts are mostly of lower education (p less than 0,05) and their intelligence quotient is usually below 100 (p less than 0,1) when compared with that of extroverts. For selfexaminations of the breast this finding is of special importance to preventive medicine to provide effective instructions and guidance. --II. Emotional labile women (FPI-N) produce expected results of being especially fearsome (p less than 0,01) regarding breast change appearance produced by an conscious fear of cancer (p less than 0,05). Upon discovery of a painful lump in the breast labile women delay the visit to the physician longer as emotional stable women (p less than 0,05). Labile women stay single twice as often as emotional stable women (p less than 0,01). This produces a lower possibility to be activated by ones spouse to seek the aid of a physician for treatment of the breast. --III. In women with personality traits of depression or low selfesteem is a longer delay period apparant as in women with high selfesteem. Upon noticing a lump in the breast--if painful or not--women with high selfesteem immediately pay a visit to their physician (p less than 0,05) but the others delay. Here should be mentioned that depressed women deviate from the lot in regard to family status (p less than 0,05) and obtained education/intelligence niveau (p less than 0,01). These results are debated viewing preventive-medical and psychosocial aspects.