Posttraumatic Growth In Cancer Survivors Research Articles

Rumination, Basic Beliefs, and Posttraumatic Growth in Cancer Patients

Background Cancer is a highly distressing and traumatic experience that can significantly impact individuals’ psychological well-being. Whereas many cancer patients may experience negative psychological outcomes, such as posttraumatic stress symptoms, a subset of individuals also reports positive psychological changes known as posttraumatic growth. Objective To contribute to theory-driven development of these treatments by exploring the role of deliberate rumination in posttraumatic growth, along with the basic beliefs that might shape it. Methods A sample of cancer patients (n = 139) completed self-report measures assessing rumination, basic beliefs, and posttraumatic growth. Multiple linear regression analyses and moderated mediation models were conducted to analyze the data. Results Findings support the hypothesis that intrusive rumination, deliberate ruminating, and disruption in basic beliefs strongly predict posttraumatic growth in cancer survivors. The results of this simple mediation indicate that deliberate rumination has a full mediating role. The results show that at all levels of basic beliefs, there is a positive and statistically significant indirect effect of intrusive rumination on posttraumatic growth. Conclusions These findings highlight the importance of addressing rumination and core beliefs in interventions aimed at promoting posttraumatic growth among cancer patients. Further research is needed to explore additional factors that may influence the relationship between rumination, basic beliefs, and posttraumatic growth. Implications for Practice Oncology nurses can assist individuals in recognizing and managing intrusive rumination, as well as advocating deliberate rumination as a constructive cognitive process for making sense of a traumatic event and fostering growth.

Post-traumatic growth in cancer survivors: What is its extent and what are important determinants?

Background/ObjectiveThe aim was to investigate the extent and longitudinal determinants of post-traumatic growth (PTG) in cancer survivors. MethodsA sample of 1316 cancer survivors with various cancer types was examined using the EORTC QLQ-FA12 to assess fatigue, the EORTC QLQ-C30 pain items to assess pain and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) to assess emotional distress two years after diagnosis (t0). Additionally, patients rated how well they felt informed about fatigue at t0. PTG was assessed with the 21-item PTG-Inventory four years after diagnosis (t1) comprising the five subdimensions appreciation of life, relation to others, personal strengths, new possibilities and spiritual change. ResultsRegarding the extent of PTG, most positive developments were experienced in the PTG subdimension appreciation of life whereas the subdimension spiritual change was the least pronounced domain. Fatigue, pain and emotional distress were longitudinal but non-linear predictors of long-term PTG. Additionally, poor informedness about fatigue was associated with less PTG. ConclusionsPTG can be perceived even years after a traumatic cancer event and is longitudinally associated with common cancer side effects like fatigue, emotional distress and pain. Further research into the role of individuals' informedness contributing to PTG is needed.

Posttraumatic Growth in Cancer Patients: A Meta-analysis Study

Background: This meta-analysis study aimed to evaluate post-traumatic growth (PTG) in cancer patients.Methods: We systematically searched for studies that reported PTG in cancer patients. Then, irrelevant studies were removed after the abstracts of articles were studied, and articles completely related to the research purpose were selected by examining the full texts of the articles. Finally, the articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected for analysis based on the criteria of critical evaluation.Results: Of 21 articles, nine studies were performed on women, one study on men, and 11 studies on both sexes, and all of them used post-traumatic growth inventory (PTGI). The studies showed that the mean PTGI score was 60.72 and heterogeneity was not statistically significant (I2 = 0.0, heterogeneity = 0.998). The subgroups classified according to continents showed that the mean PTGI scores in Asia, Europe, and the United States were 61.40, 59.12, and 60.42, respectively.Conclusion: Recognition of the psychological responses in cancer patients requires much more attention from health care professionals, and they should consider programs to enhance PTG in cancer survivors.

Posttraumatic Growth in Cancer Survivors: The Application of Double ABCX Family Stress Model

Posttraumatic Growth in Cancer Survivors: The Application of Double ABCX Family Stress Model

Post-traumatic growth and related factors among 1221 Chinese cancer survivors.

There is an increasing number of studies on the post-traumatic growth (PTG) of cancer survivors worldwide. However, few Chinese studies have reported about PTG in cancer survivors because of the underdevelopment of community health services. This study aimed to evaluate the level of PTG in China and explore related factors among a large sample of survivors of more than 12 cancer types. We recruited 1236 survivors from 14 sites of the Beijing Cancer Rehabilitation Association. Survivors completed standardized questionnaires assessing PTG, social support, coping styles, demographic characteristics, and clinical conditions. Multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate potential predictive factors of PTG. A total of 1221 (98.7%) subjects completed the questionnaires. The average PTG score was 61.15 ± 20.26. Seven variables were included in the final regression model: social support, coping style, time after treatment, exercise, BMI, work status, and economic income (P < .05). Survivors who had low levels of social support, had negative coping strategies, had a time after treatment of less than 5 years, exercised irregularly, had an abnormal BMI, were unemployed, or had low economic income had lower PTG levels. PTG levels among Chinese cancer survivors are associated with social support, coping style, time after treatment, exercise, BMI, work status, and economic income. Strategies tailored to Chinese survivors should be developed to promote their PTG and improve their physical and psychological well-being.

Factors Influencing Posttraumatic Growth in Cancer Survivors

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the level of post-traumatic growth (PTG) and the factors affecting the PTG of cancer survivors. Methods: Data were collected from 147 cancer patients who were admitted to hospital to two hospitals, P and B city during July and September, 2017 using the PTG Inventory, Multidimensional Scale Perceived Social Support, Event-Related Rumination Inventory, Korean Cancer Coping Questionnaire, Resilience Scale, and Self-Esteem Scale. Data were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson-correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. Results: The mean score for PTG in cancer survivors was 3.20 points. PTG had significant correlation with social support, deliberate rumination, coping, and resilience. Factors that had an influence on PTG in multiple regression were social support (β=0.25, p＜001), personal coping (β=0.22, p=.008), resilience (β=0.21, p=.006), recognizing the need for religion (β=0.17, p=.015), religion (β=0.17 p=.011), and deliberate rumination (β=.15, p=.022). These factors explained 60.0% of the variance in the PTG of cancer patients. Conclusion: In order to effectively promote PTG of cancer survivors, it is necessary to develop and apply programs that can improve social support, coping (personal), resilience, religion, and deliberate rumination.

The Role of Psychological Hardiness and Marital Satisfaction in Predicting Posttraumatic Growth in a Sample of Women With Breast Cancer in Isfahan.

BackgroundPosttraumatic growth (PTG) refers to positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life circumstances. PTG in cancer survivors is related to several psychosocial factors such as psychological hardiness and marital satisfaction.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to examine the prediction of posttraumatic growth based on psychological hardiness and marital satisfaction.Patients and MethodsA total of 120 women with breast cancer were recruited from several hospitals in Isfahan using convenience sampling. Participants completed the research questionnaires including the posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI), the Ahvaz psychological hardiness scale and the Enrich’s marital satisfaction scale (EMS). Statistical analysis including means, standard deviation, Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analysis were carried out using SPSS software (version 16).ResultsResults indicated that the majority of patients with cancer experienced posttraumatic growth. Findings also showed that psychological hardiness, marital satisfaction and longer time since diagnosis of cancer significantly predicted posttraumatic growth.ConclusionsThis study highlights the significant role of psychological hardiness and marital support in personal growth of breast cancer survivors.

Post-Traumatic Growth in Cancer Survivors: Narrative Markers and Functions of The Experience's Transformation

The concept that a traumatic experience, such as a cancer, can lead to a positive change and transformation of self, life and relationships was named as post-traumatic growth (PTG). A large amount of research measured PTG in cancer survivors arguing an interpretation of the construct as an outcome. Recently, qualitative research shows different types of narrative of PTG, but the narrative markers and their functions of transformation remain still unclear. Within a mixed-method, we aim to highlight the narrative markers and their transformative functions, underlying the PTG, within 12 cancer survivors’ narratives with medium/high and medium/low level of PTG. A redemptive sequence analysis was carried out. In the narratives with high/medium PTG we find a specific transformative function on-thinking focused transformation founded on the change/expansion of the own internal criteria to interpret the relationship with the world centralizing the self in the present and future; in the narratives with medium/low PTG we find an on-acting focused transformation, founded on the change of the operational procedures aimed to live centered on the present and on its moments.

Post-traumatic Growth in the Italian Experience of Long-term Disease-free Cancer Survivors.

Cancer survivors often report post-traumatic growth. Since culture influences the development of post-traumatic growth, the aims of this study were to measure the prevalence of post-traumatic growth in Italian long-term disease-free and treatment-free cancer survivors (≥5 years) and explore the relationship between post-traumatic growth and sociodemographic and clinical variables. Three hundred sixty long-term disease-free and treatment-free cancer survivors were assessed with Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Brief COPE and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Mean age was 58.6 years, and mean survival was 11 years (range 5-32). The PTGI average total score was higher in younger survivors, in those without comorbidities, in survivors engaged in physical activity. Positive correlation between PTGI and Brief COPE and between PTGI and MSPSS were found. The variables more associated with post-traumatic growth were age, comorbidity, physical activity and two coping subscales. The prevalence of post-traumatic growth in this sample of cancer survivors was lower than previous studies. We discussed some possible explanations, including the consideration that cultural differences may affect the development of post-traumatic growth in cancer survivors. Having less comorbidities, receiving social support from friends, having the ability to adaptively cope and engaging in physical activity were found to be strongly associated with post-traumatic growth.

The relationship of coping strategies, social support, and attachment style with posttraumatic growth in cancer survivors

This cross-sectional study investigated attachment style, coping strategies, social support, and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in 54 cancer survivors. Secure attachment was significantly associated with active coping, positive reframing, and religion, and these were all associated with PTG. Insecure types of attachment and social support variables were unrelated to PTG. Regression analysis suggests that positive reframing and religion as coping strategies may mediate the relationship between secure attachment and PTG.

Cambios psicológicos e intervenciones basadas en mindfulness para los supervivientes de un cáncer

The population of cancer survivors is increasing due to advances in medicine. Achieving an increase in survival is not enough and the focus is on improving the quality of life in all its dimensions, including psychological and spiritual. New psychosocial needs arise in this population. In general, major mental disorders such as major depression or PTSD are rare among survivors, while less severe adjustment disorders such as depression, anxiety or mixed are relatively common. But not only negative changes in quality of life have been described, there are also several positive psychological changes included in the concept of posttraumatic growth. The similarities between descriptions of change in people experiencing posttraumatic growth and the attitude that Mindfulness promotes suggest that Mindfulness training may promote posttraumatic growth in cancer survivors.