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This study evaluated the short-term impact of YWCA Encore, a mixed-modality group exercise and information support program for breast cancer patients situated in the community setting. Australian post-surgical breast cancer patients (N = 162) were assigned to either the 8-week Encore intervention or a Waitlist control. Intervention impact was assessed in terms of quality of life, cancer-specific distress, and social support. Changes in familiarity with exercise, self-efficacy and social support were tested as mediators of the intervention impact on quality of life. Overall adherence and satisfaction with the program were high. Significant enhancements at follow-up for quality of life and social support were evident for intervention compared with control participants. Familiarity with exercise and self-efficacy satisfied the requirements for mediation of quality of life. These findings provide evidence for psychosocial benefits of YWCA Encore multi-component program and support the use of such community-based programs for breast cancer survivors. The role of exercise familiarity and self-efficacy as probable mediators of the multi-component intervention is a critical finding and highlights the need for future investigations into the underlying mediating processes of similar interventions for cancer patients. Keywords Breast cancer * Multi-component intervention * Quality of life * Mediator * Social support, Introduction Serious illness, such as breast cancer, threatens the individual, challenging long-held beliefs about the self and the world; this, in turn, depletes personal and social resources (Aspinwall 2004). Breast [...]

Fifty-one spiritually oriented volunteer clients completed 2 sessions of waking life dream interpretation or 2 sessions of spiritual dream interpretation. Volunteer clients in both conditions increased in insight into their dreams and rated sessions favorably, but volunteer clients in the spiritual condition experienced greater increases in spiritual insight into their dreams and experienced greater increases in existential well-being. The results suggest the benefits of incorporating spirituality into dream interpretation for spiritually oriented clients., From antiquity to the present, some people have viewed dreams as possible links to spiritual realms and sacred forces (Van de Castle, 1994; Wollmering, 1997). Virtually every religious tradition throughout [...]

Summary This article is intended to promote awareness of physical exercise as a safe, advantageous and feasible intervention for a patient with breast cancer or recovering from it. The numerous [...]