Abstract
The present study aimed to examine the effect of optimism on pre and post diagnosed psychological stress in
breast cancer women. Sample consisted of eighty women in age range of 45 to 60 years,(M=52.6, SD=9.15)who
were scheduled for diagnosis at the Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (IRNUM), of Peshawar,
Khyber Pakhtun khawa, Pakistan. Convenience sampling technique was used. The sample was matched on
certain demographic variables, such as age, socioeconomic status and education and was assessed by Life
Orientation Test Revised (Scheier & Carver, 1985), and Impact of Event Scales (Horowitz, Wilner, & Alvarez,
1979).The t-test analyses were carried out to test the significance of difference between two groups. Results
show that breast cancer women having higher optimism experience less stress before and after the diagnosis of
breast cancer as compared to those with low optimism(p< .001). The data support the hypotheses. The findings
conclude that optimism has supportive effect during the psychological stress experienced by the women at pre
and post diagnostic stage of breast cancer and it can be a useful tool in minimizing stressful life events such as
breast cancer.
