The impact of attachment styles and self-compassion on medication adherence in breast cancer patients: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Medication adherence is crucial for positive health outcomes in breast cancer patients. Psychological factors, such as attachment styles, may is associated with adherence behaviors. This study examined whether self-compassion mediates the relationship between attachment styles and medication adherence in female breast cancer patients. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 197 women recruited via convenience sampling who completed self-report measures of medication adherence, attachment styles, and self-compassion. Results indicated that self-compassion mediated the relationship between both attachment anxiety (indirect effect = 0.41; CI = 0.24 to 0.58) and attachment avoidance (indirect effect = 0.32; CI = 0.12 to 0.54) with medication adherence. However, self-compassion played a stronger mediating role in the relationship with attachment anxiety. These findings suggest that enhancing self-compassion may support medication adherence among breast cancer patients with insecure attachment styles.