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The link between anxiety, depression, and cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in cancer patients is currently gaining attention, yet no research to date, have investigated the cognitive coping strategies moderating this link. This study evaluated the moderating role of cognitive emotion regulation (CER) in the association between anxiety, depression, and CRF in cancer patients. Participants included 372 cancer patients (female = 57%) recruited from the oncology unit of a University Teaching Hospital, South-east Nigeria. They completed the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Cognitive Emotion Regulatory Questionnaires. The results of the moderation analysis showed that the adaptive CER (ACER) and maladaptive (MCER) total scores moderated the relationship between anxiety and CRF, but not for depression. ACER resulted in lower CRF when combined with lower anxiety while the use of MCER resulted in higher CRF when combined with higher anxiety. Further probe into the nine dimensions of CER (five ACER and four MCER) showed positive refocusing, putting into perspective, refocusing on planning, positive reappraisal, catastrophizing and others blame moderated the association between anxiety and CRF. But for depression, self-blame moderated the relationship between depression and CRF, particularly at higher level of self-blame. These findings highlighted the importance of cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the management of CRF in cancer patients. Interventions aimed at improving better cognitive coping strategies could help to ameliorate higher level of psychological distress among cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burden of cancer and psychological distress resulting from cancer‐related experiences may have an impact on women's cognitive emotion regulation. The study investigated the efficacy of a 12‐week group cognitive behavioural therapy (GCBT) programme in enhancing adaptive cognitive emotion regulation (CER) in women with breast cancer at a tertiary healthcare institution in Nigeria. Thirty‐one (31) women with breast cancer were randomly allocated to the treatment group (TG, N = 16) and a control group (CG, N = 15). The TG received a 12‐week course of 90‐min GCBT sessions, while the CG received a booklet containing information on cancer and how to deal with cancer. Assessments were carried out for both groups at the baseline (pretest), post‐test and 2‐month follow‐up with the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Data were analysed with the independent‐samples t test and the chi‐square test for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. The results showed that participants in the TG had a significant increase in adaptive CER and decrease in maladaptive CER compared with the CG both at post‐treatment and at 2‐month follow‐up. Cognitive behavioural therapy is effective in the improvement of adaptive CER in women with breast cancer. The use of psychotherapy (such as CBT) as complementary treatment to standard oncology care in the management of breast cancer patients in Nigeria is therefore emphasised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]