Research Article

Breast Cancer Worry and Associated Factors Among Female University Students: A Cross- Sectional Study

Volume: 17 Number: 2 August 24, 2026
TR EN

Breast Cancer Worry and Associated Factors Among Female University Students: A Cross- Sectional Study

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed to examine of worry level in breast cancer and the factors that might be related to university students. Method: This cross-sectional descriptive research was conducted on 347 female university students. The data was collected using the Descriptive Characteristic Form and Breast Cancer Worry Scale and evaluated with descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The mean age of participants is 20.65±2.18 (min-max =18-37), and the mean score of the breast cancer worry scale is 8.24±4.7 (min-max=0-20). 69,5% of students are studying health-related departments, 51% are using the web for medical research, and 13,3% have breast cancer history in their families. It was found that 62% of students had made self-breast examinations at least one time in their life, 12,1% had breast problems, and 26,5% had breast cancer worry. Factors contributing to worry about breast cancer include age (OR = 0.84, p = 0.040), class (OR = 3.85, p = 0.049), social security status (OR = 4.13, p = 0.042), knowing the breast cancer risk factors (OR = 2.24, p = 0.036) and have had a clinical breast examination before (OR = 3.05, p = 0.014). It was determined that those who know breast cancer risk factors are 2.24 times more worried, and those who have had clinical breast examinations are 3.05 times more worried about breast cancer. Conclusion: Examining the research findings reveals the level of breast cancer worry is low among university students. Also, it was found that breast cancer worry is affected by situations like age, social security, knowing the breast cancer risk factors, and having had a clinical breast examination before.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Surgical Diseases Nursing​​

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 24, 2026

Submission Date

February 24, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 6, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 17 Number: 2

APA
Salman Saraç, F., Baksi, A., Horzum, Ş., & Bilgiç, Ü. S. (2026). Breast Cancer Worry and Associated Factors Among Female University Students: A Cross- Sectional Study. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 17(2), 235-244. https://doi.org/10.22312/sdusbed.1645886
AMA
1.Salman Saraç F, Baksi A, Horzum Ş, Bilgiç ÜS. Breast Cancer Worry and Associated Factors Among Female University Students: A Cross- Sectional Study. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;17(2):235-244. doi:10.22312/sdusbed.1645886
Chicago
Salman Saraç, Filiz, Altun Baksi, Şengül Horzum, and Ümmü Sena Bilgiç. 2026. “Breast Cancer Worry and Associated Factors Among Female University Students: A Cross- Sectional Study”. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17 (2): 235-44. https://doi.org/10.22312/sdusbed.1645886.
EndNote
Salman Saraç F, Baksi A, Horzum Ş, Bilgiç ÜS (August 1, 2026) Breast Cancer Worry and Associated Factors Among Female University Students: A Cross- Sectional Study. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17 2 235–244.
IEEE
[1]F. Salman Saraç, A. Baksi, Ş. Horzum, and Ü. S. Bilgiç, “Breast Cancer Worry and Associated Factors Among Female University Students: A Cross- Sectional Study”, Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 235–244, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.22312/sdusbed.1645886.
ISNAD
Salman Saraç, Filiz - Baksi, Altun - Horzum, Şengül - Bilgiç, Ümmü Sena. “Breast Cancer Worry and Associated Factors Among Female University Students: A Cross- Sectional Study”. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17/2 (August 1, 2026): 235-244. https://doi.org/10.22312/sdusbed.1645886.
JAMA
1.Salman Saraç F, Baksi A, Horzum Ş, Bilgiç ÜS. Breast Cancer Worry and Associated Factors Among Female University Students: A Cross- Sectional Study. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;17:235–244.
MLA
Salman Saraç, Filiz, et al. “Breast Cancer Worry and Associated Factors Among Female University Students: A Cross- Sectional Study”. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 17, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 235-44, doi:10.22312/sdusbed.1645886.
Vancouver
1.Filiz Salman Saraç, Altun Baksi, Şengül Horzum, Ümmü Sena Bilgiç. Breast Cancer Worry and Associated Factors Among Female University Students: A Cross- Sectional Study. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026 Aug. 1;17(2):235-44. doi:10.22312/sdusbed.1645886