Effect of empowerment on the quality of life of the survivors of breast cancer: The moderating effect of self‐help group participation

Aim To analyze the moderating effect of self‐help group participation on the relationship between empowerment and quality of life for survivors of breast cancer. Methods This study was conducted in breast cancer centers in general hospitals and long‐term care hospitals with 264 survivors of breast cancer. The Cancer Empowerment Questionnaire and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Breast were used for the data collection. Differences between the regularly attending participants in the self‐help groups and those who did not regularly attend were studied and these groups were dichotomized. Results The empowerment of the survivors of breast cancer significantly influenced their quality of life. Depending on their participation in the self‐help group, there was a significant difference in their quality of life. After controlling for empowerment, however, participation in the self‐help group did not significantly influence the survivors' quality of life. Participation in the self‐help group had a significant effect on the survivors' sense of empowerment, which in turn positively influenced their quality of life. Conclusion It is essential to provide emotional support, including valuable information, to the survivors of breast cancer who do not participate in self‐help groups.