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Objective: Emotional competence (EC) is considered a substantial resource in the adjustment of cancer patients, especially via its effect on anxiety and depression symptoms. This research aimed at assessing the impact of intrapersonal EC in young women (≤45 years) with breast cancer (YWBC) on their specific quality of life (i.e. subjective experience related to daily difficulties and perceived repercussions of the disease and treatments) related to chemotherapy, via anxiety and depression symptoms. Methods: Two hundred fifty YWBC from 24 French centers completed a self‐reported questionnaire after diagnosis (T1) and after the chemotherapy phase (T2), comprising the Young Women Breast Cancer Inventory, the Profile of EC and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The indirect effect of EC (T1) on subjective experience (T2) via anxiety and depression symptoms (T2) was tested using regressions and the Macro PROCESS. Results: Emotional competence predicted fewer anxiety and depression symptoms at T1 and T2, and a better subjective experience at T2 via fewer anxiety and depression symptoms. Depression symptoms appeared to be a stronger mediator than anxiety symptoms on four dimensions (Support from close relatives, feeling of couple cohesion, body image and sexuality, management of children and everyday life), whereas anxiety symptoms appeared to be a stronger mediator on two dimensions (negative affectivity and apprehension about the future, deterioration of relationships). Conclusions: These results support the importance of developing psycho‐affective interventions to reinforce the EC of YWBC during chemotherapy in order to facilitate the cognitive and emotional processes necessary for a better adjustment and subjective experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Evaluate the influence of emotional distress of young women with breast cancer and their spouses on their daily subjective experience of the disease, through application of the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model.Patients& Methods: A total of 112 women under 45 years of age were diagnosed with nonmetastatic breast cancer and their spouses answered self-reported measures of anxiety, depression and subjective experience of the disease and its treatment.Results: The patient's emotional distress influenced more the subjective experience of her spouse than the spouse's emotional distress influenced the patient. The spouse's difficulties depended as much on his own distress level as on the patient's distress level.Conclusion: These data confirm the importance of implementing couple-focused interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]