Effect of empowerment on the quality of life of the survivors of breast cancer: The moderating effect of self-help group participation

Aim: To analyze the moderating effect of self-help group participation on the relationship between empowerment and quality of life for survivors of breast cancer. Methods: This study was conducted in breast cancer centers in general hospitals and long-term care hospitals with 264 survivors of breast cancer. The Cancer Empowerment Questionnaire and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast were used for the data collection. Differences between the regularly attending participants in the self-help groups and those who did not regularly attend were studied and these groups were dichotomized. Results: The empowerment of the survivors of breast cancer significantly influenced their quality of life. Depending on their participation in the self-help group, there was a significant difference in their quality of life. After controlling for empowerment, however, participation in the self-help group did not significantly influence the survivors' quality of life. Participation in the self-help group had a significant effect on the survivors' sense of empowerment, which in turn positively influenced their quality of life. Conclusion: It is essential to provide emotional support, including valuable information, to the survivors of breast cancer who do not participate in self-help groups.