In the general population, the prevalence of hopelessness appears to be higher for men than women, and less educated, divorced, rural and fairly poor men have high hopelessness score ( 5). The hopelessness concept has been studied in different research settings and hopelessness has been found to have a negative impact on subjective well being and physical outcome ( 2- 6). In 1974, Aaron Beck and his co-workers ( 1) introduced hopelessness as a personality feature characterized by negative emotions, unrealistic negative attitude toward the future and loss of pleasure in life. Conclusion: The results of this study show that patients with BC and BBD are at risk for hopelessness. 8/34 (23.5%) subjects of the BC group by the ERM. In the BC group, 2/34 (5.9%) subjects reported grade III/IV hopelessness by SRM vs. 12/53 (22.7%) subjects of the BBD group by the ERM. In the BBD group 7/53 (13.2%) subjects reported grade III/IV hopelessness by the SRM vs.

4/28 (14.3%) subjects of the HSS group reported grade III/IV hopelessness by the examiners rating method (ERM). In the HSS group, no study subjects who reported grade III/IV hopelessness by the self-rating method (SRM) vs. There was a trend for the HSS, BBD and BC groups to ‘understage’ hopelessness.

However, the mean sum of the hopelessness score for HSS, BBD and BC groups differed only slightly in other grades. There was a trend for the BBD and BC group to report clearer hopelessness (18.9% and 20.6%, grade III hopelessness, respectively) than the patients in the HSS group (10.7%, grade III hopelessness). Results: The clinical examination and biopsy showed BC in 34 patients, benign breast disease (BBD) in 53 patients, while 28 individuals were shown to be healthy study subjects (HSS). Materials and Methods: In an extension of the Kuopio Breast Cancer Study, 115 women with breast symptoms were evaluated for hopelessness before any diagnostic procedures were carried out. To the Authors' knowledge, the associations between hopelessness and the risk of breast cancer (BC) are rarely considered together in a prospective study. Background: A hopeful attitude is important for psychological well being, and hopelessness is associated with various chronic illnesses, including cancer.

Beck hopelessness scale questionnaire