Breast Cancer (BC) is the most common neoplasm in women worldwide, considered a global public health problem. Among BC women, some of the most common psychological symptoms in the adaptation to the disease are reduction in self-esteem and distorted body image (BI). Although there are numerous studies with the goal of promoting different psychological variables, BI and self-esteem are often separately observed despite their relationship and their importance in the process of the illness. Moreover, there have been no reviews that have synthesized the findings related to interventions aimed at enhancing both self-esteem and BI in BC women. Therefore, the objective of this review was to identify and examine the implemented interventions aimed at boosting both variables in this population. For this purpose, a systematic review was implemented following the PRISMA statement. A thorough search was performed on the following databases: Web of Science, PubMed, PsychInfo, PsychArticles, and Scopus. Among 287 records, only eight articles met the eligibility criteria. Interventions were grouped into three types according to their characteristics: Group therapies, Physical activity therapies, and Cosmetic and beauty treatments. The levels of effectiveness of the different interventions varied between them, and within each, in their impact on self-esteem and BI. More interventions focused on developing BI and self-esteem in this population are needed due to their ability to predict psychological functioning and quality of life of women with breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the malignancy with the highest incidence in women worldwide. The empirical evidence is inconsistent with the prevalence of depression among breast cancer survivors (BCS), pointing to emotional competencies as protective factors against affective disorders. However, the mechanisms through which these competencies favor a more adaptive emotional state are unknown. Therefore, this study aims to explore the relationship between the experience of having survived the disease and depression levels in a group of BCS, and the mediating role of Perceived Emotional Intelligence (PEI) in this relation. This was a cross-sectional study with 237 women divided into two groups: 56 BCS and 181 healthy controls who completed the Trait Meta-Mood Scale 24 (TMMS-24) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results showed that Survivorship and PEI explained and predicted 37.8% of the variance of depression, corresponding the 11.7% to the direct and/or the indirect effect of the PEI dimensions (Emotional Attention, Emotional Clarity, and Emotional Repair). In conclusion, interventions aimed at promoting an adequate PEI in this population—and in the Psycho-oncology field, in general—with a particular focus on the development of Emotional Clarity and Repair need to be implemented. Limitations and future research lines are discussed.

Psycho-oncology research suggests that positive personal changes can occur after experiencing breast cancer. These changes can be understood as post-traumatic growth (PTG) and seem to be determined by emotional self-efficacy perception. This study aims to investigate the existence of different profiles of PTG and perceived emotional intelligence (PEI) among breast cancer survivors (BCSs) and healthy controls. Moreover, it aims to study the mechanisms through which PEI may mediate the relationship between disease survival and PTG. The total sample was 636 women divided into two groups: 56 BCS and 580 healthy controls who completed TMMS-24 and PTGI. The results displayed that BCSs apparently show a different profile of PTG and PEI compared to healthy women. The mediation analyses showed that survivorship explained 1.9% of PTG, increasing to 26.5% by the effect of PEI. An indirect effect showed that cancer survival predicts reduced levels of emotional attention, decreasing PTG. However, the most statistical indirect effect evidenced that BCSs regulate their emotions appropriately, having a powerful effect on PTG and counteracting the negative effects of poor emotional attention. Knowing the implications of PEI on PTG could improve follow-up from the time of diagnosis and supporting the patient to cope with the sequelae of the disease.

Emotional Intelligence (EI), defined as the ability to perceive, identify, understand, and regulate emotional states is related to health outcomes. In this line, some studies examined this personal resource in the cancer area and, specifically, in breast cancer. Also, the different models and measures have led to a categorisation considering the various construct-method pairings of EI. Despite the increased number of studies about EI in the breast cancer context, there are no systematic reviews that summarise the results obtained in the different investigations. Objectives: Hence, the present review aims: to identify and describe the measures that have been used for assessing EI within this field, and to summarise the main results regarding EI in terms of its predictors and outcomes, considering the instruments used to assess it. Methods: The PRISMA guidelines were followed. Database search was conducted in WOS, Scopus, Pubmed, and PSYCArticles. Results: A total of 156 articles were found and 21 met the eligibility criteria. On one hand, one of the most used instruments was the TMMS-24 framed within the self-report ability EI, followed by those framed within the self-report mixed EI. None of the studies measured EI by the performance-based ability EI perspective. On the other hand, EI was related to other variables such as psychological well-being, quality of life, resilience, workability, anxiety, and depression. The majority of the studies were cross-sectional, and some of them included an intervention. Conclusions: This review provides a comprehensive overview of the existing studies concerning EI in the context of breast cancer, highlighting some of its characteristics regarding design, participants, used measures, and related variables. Also, the obtained results can improve the clinical practice and the understanding of the EI as an influencing factor in the health and quality of life of breast cancer populations.

La gestión emocional se plantea como uno de los retos emergentes en la sociedad actual. Eneste sentido, el ámbito educativo se presenta como uno de los pioneros en el diseño e implementación de programas que promueven su desarrollo, favoreciendo en el alumnado sus competencias sociales y personales (Guil y Gil-Olarte, 2007). De acuerdo con la normativa educativa vigente, las administraciones educativas promoverán el máximo desarrollo personal, intelectual, social y emocional del alumnado (Ley Orgánica 2/2006, de 3 de mayo, de Educación modificada por la Ley Orgánica 9/2013, de 9 de diciembre, para la Mejora de la Calidad Educativa). Sin embargo, en la Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (E.S.O.) encontramos escasos programas que atiendan a este desarrollo integral. Asimismo, este alumnado presenta necesidades específicas de apoyo educativo para alcanzar el logro académico debido, entre otras razones, a su déficit en diversas competencias emocionales y habilidades sociales (Santamaría y Valdés, 2017). Concretamente, en Andalucía, el alumnado de Formación Profesional Básica presenta altas tasas de absentismo, así como escasa motivación, autoconcepto, autoestima y habilidades sociales, entre otras características (Junta de Andalucía, 2018). Para dar respuesta a esta situación, planteamos un proyecto piloto cuya finalidad será incrementar el logro académico y la adaptación socioescolar a través de las competencias emocionales. Dicho proyecto se ha llevado a cabo con cinco alumnos/as de segundo curso de E.S.O. que cumplen las características necesarias para iniciar las enseñanzas de Formación Profesional Básica en el próximo curso escolar. De este modo, se desarrollarán las competencias emocionales del alumnado con el refuerzo de las materias instrumentales y fundamentales del currículum de manera complementaria a la enseñanza formal.

La enfermedad mental es un problema de salud a nivel mundial que afecta a una de cada cuatro personas. A pesar de su elevada incidencia, existe una fuerte discriminación social sobre estos enfermos (OMS, 2004). Diversos profesionales se encuentran en su desempeño diario situaciones de interacción con estos pacientes pudiendo actuar como perpetuadores del estigma si muestran actitudes negativas de miedo y hostilidad (Roos y Goldner, 2009). Asimismo, el contacto con estos enfermos mentales condicionará las actitudes hacia la propia enfermedad. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer las actitudes hacia los enfermos mentales de los futuros profesionales de Ciencias de la Salud, en comparación con el alumnado de otras ramas de conocimiento, y explorar si mantener contacto con estos enfermos puede modificar dicha actitud. Se administró el cuestionario “Opiniones sobre la enfermedad mental” (Ozamiz, 1980) a 820 estudiantes (70,37% mujeres y 29,63% hombres) de diferentes titulaciones de Ciencias de la Salud y Ciencias Sociales y Jurídicas. Esta escala informa sobre la Actitud general y 5 subdimensiones (Negativismo, Etiología social, Autoritarismo, Restrictividad y Prejuicio), obteniendo una fiabilidad superior a .7 en Negativismo y Etiología Social. Los resultados indican que los estudiantes de Ciencias de la Salud muestran menores niveles de Negativismo hacia el enfermo mental que el alumnado de Ciencias Sociales y Jurídicas, independientemente del contacto mantenido. Además, los estudiantes que manifiestan haber tenido contacto con estos enfermos presentan menores niveles de Negativismo, no diferenciándose de forma estadísticamente significativa ni en la Actitud general, ni en Etiología social, con independencia de la titulación cursada. Estos resultados parecen indicar que una actitud negativa hacia el enfermo mental es menor entre el alumnado de Ciencias de la Salud en comparación con las Ciencia Sociales y Jurídicas, y entre los que han mantenido contactos con enfermos mentales.