Structural Pattern of Death Attitude Based on Attachment Styles in Adolescents With Cancer: Mediator Role of Repression and Anxiety Sensitivity

 Cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in adolescents. Psychological factors play an important role in the development and sustainability, and treatment outcomes of cancer. One of these factors is the attitude towards death. One of the variables that play a fundamental role in the attitude towards death is the quality of the parent-child relationship, which forms the attachment style basis. Therefore, in this research, the structural pattern of death attitude based on attachment styles in adolescents with cancer was explored. Accordingly, we investigated the mediating role of emotional repression and anxiety sensitivity. 

In total, 150 adolescents with cancer (85 girls & 65 boys) in the Isfahan Province, Iran, referring to Health centers and Ala Cancer Prevention and Control Center (MACSA). They were selected by convenience sampling method. Then, they were evaluated by the following measures: Hazan and Shaver Attachment Style in Adults Inventory, Wong Death Attitude Inventory, Weinberger Emotional Repression Inventory, Anxiety Sensitivity (AS) Inventory. The obtained data were analyzed by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). 

The collected result indicated that attachment quality has a direct and significant relationship with the attitude toward death in adolescents with cancer. Additionally, attachment quality through the mediating role of emotional suppression and anxiety sensitivity had significant relationships with the attitude toward death in this population. 

 Attachment styles, emotional suppression, and anxiety sensitivity are the important determinants of attitude toward death in adolescents with cancer. Moreover, the assessed model could explain the attitude toward death in these individuals.