The ability of social problem-solving to mediate the relationship between breast cancer severity and posttraumatic stress symptomatology

Abstract

The current study evaluated the importance social problem solving (SPS) in determining posttraumatic stress symptom severity among breast cancer survivors. The foundation for this study is consistent with the problem-solving model of stress and coping. It is proposed that SPS likely functions in two separate manners in the presentation of PTSD. First, it is a part of the appraisal process in PTSD presentation, and second, it has a role in determining how effectively traumatized individuals utilize there social resources. It was hypothesized that SPS would mediate the relationship between cancer severity and PTSD symptomatology. Forty-three women who were 1-year post cancer diagnosis completed self-report questionnaires. Results found that global scores of SPS do not mediate the relationship between cancer severity and PTSD symptomatology; however, negative problem orientation predicted caner-related PTSD symptomatology and was found to mediate the relationship between cancer severity and PTSD symptomatology. These results suggest that negative problem orientation (a mechanism of appraisal) likely has a significant role in determining caner-related PTSD symptomatology. Rational problem-solving skills did not predict cancer-related PTSD symptomatology. These results support the concept that appraisal is a significant aspect of PTSD, but that the performance skills of SPS may not have a direct role in the presentation of PTSD-symptomatology. The clinical and research implications of this study are discussed in the context of the limitations of this cross-sectional study.%%%%Ph.D., Clinical Psychology – Drexel University, 2005