Structured Group Reminiscence Therapy for Enhancing Distress Tolerance and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose Breast cancer survivors frequently experience persistent psychological distress and reduced quality of life long after the completion of treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of structured group reminiscence therapy in improving distress tolerance and quality of life in breast cancer survivors in Iran. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, 30 female breast cancer survivors who had completed active treatment at least six months prior were recruited from Larestan, a city in Fars Province, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 15), which received eight weekly 90-minute sessions of structured group reminiscence therapy, or a control group (n = 15). Outcome measures included the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) and the EORTC QLQ-C30 Quality of Life Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA and MANCOVA. Results Compared to the control group, the intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in overall quality of life (F = 13.08, p = 0.001, η² = 0.326) and overall distress tolerance (F = 22.44, p < 0.001, η² = 0.454). Within the quality of life dimensions, significant improvements were observed in global health status (F = 5.33, p = 0.029, η² = 0.176) and functional status (F = 13.96, p = 0.001, η² = 0.358), while no significant difference was found in symptom severity (p = 0.387). Regarding distress tolerance, significant group differences were observed in tolerance (F = 5.88, p = 0.023, η² = 0.197), appraisal (F = 11.06, p = 0.003, η² = 0.316), and regulation(F = 6.24, p = 0.020, η² = 0.206), but not in absorption (p = 0.255). Conclusion Structured group reminiscence therapy appears to be a feasible and cost-effective psychosocial intervention for improving distress tolerance and enhancing quality of life in breast cancer survivors. These findings support its integration into survivorship care. Future research with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up is recommended to further validate these outcomes.