Abstract
PURPOSE: Resilience has been suggested as an important predictor of both physical and mental health-related quality of life in breast cancer patients. However, it is unclear why resilient women handle their diagnosis better, not only mentally, but also physically. The aim of this study was to investigate paths between resilience, physical activity, and mental, physical, and global health-related quality of life in breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Structural equation modeling was conducted to evaluate the proposed structural paths using a sample of 638 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer patients from Sweden. RESULTS: Resilience was directly associated with physical activity and mental health-related quality of life. It was indirectly associated with physical functioning, through mental health-related quality of life and physical activity. Resilience was also indirectly associated with global quality of life, through mental health-related quality of life. CONCLUSION: Mental health support and encouraging physical activity may be especially relevant to enhance all aspects of health-related quality of life early in the breast cancer process. Results should be replicated longitudinally.