Posttraumatic growth in breast cancer survivors and its relationship with cognitive appraisal

Abstract

Objective To explore the status and influencing factors of posttraumatic growth (PTG) in breast cancer patients and identify the influence of cognitive appraisal on PTG and the relationship between PTG and cognitive appraisal. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. Totally 356 breast cancer patients were investigated with the revised Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Cognitive Appraisal Scale. Results The average score of PTG in breast cancer patients was (55.06±14.36) points. There were significant differences between different education level and health-care payment patients in the total score of PTG (t=5.886, 5.154, P <0.01). The level of PTG was correlated with the patients' cognitive appraisal way. It was negatively correlated with uncertain appraisal about disease and threat appraisal,and positively correlated with positive appraisal and responsible appraisal. The main prediction factors for PTG were positive appraisal, uncertain appraisal about disease, responsible appraisal, health-care payment and education level. All the variables could explain 42.7% variance of PTG. Conclusions Breast cancer patients in this study report moderate level of posttraumatic growth. The level of PTG in breast cancers is influenced by variables of patients' education level, health-care payment and cognitive appraisal. Cognitive appraisal could predict the development of PTG significantly. Key words: Breast neoplasm; Posttraumatic growth; Cognitive appraisal