Trajectories of Posttraumatic Growth and Associated Characteristics in Women with Breast Cancer

Overview

Journal Ann Behav Med

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2015 Mar 20

PMID 25786706

Citations 24

Authors

Suzanne C Danhauer

Greg Russell

L Douglas Case

Stephanie J Sohl

Richard G Tedeschi

Elizabeth L Addington

Kelli Triplett

Kimberly J Van Zee

Elizabeth Z Naftalis

Beverly Levine

Nancy E Avis

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Cancer survivors may experience posttraumatic growth (PTG), positive psychological changes resulting from highly stressful events; however, the longitudinal course of PTG is poorly understood.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to determine trajectories of PTG in breast cancer survivors and associated characteristics.

Methods: Women (N = 653) participating in a longitudinal observational study completed questionnaires within 8 months of breast cancer diagnosis and 6, 12, and 18 months later. Group-based modeling identified PTG trajectories. Chi-square tests and ANOVA detected group differences in demographic, medical, and psychosocial variables.

Results: Six trajectory groups emerged. Three were stable at different levels of PTG, two increased modestly, and one increased substantially over time. Trajectory groups differed by age, race, receipt of chemotherapy, illness intrusiveness, depressive symptoms, active-adaptive coping, and social support.

Conclusions: This first examination of PTG trajectories in US cancer survivors elucidates heterogeneity in longitudinal patterns of PTG. Future research should determine whether other samples exhibit similar trajectories and whether various PTG trajectories predict mental and physical health outcomes.

Citing Articles

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Zhu X, Qu Y, Zhang Y, Jin S, Wang H, Wang L Support Care Cancer. 2024; 32(7):483.

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Benefit finding and well-being over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moore J, Rubin K, Heaney C PLoS One. 2023; 18(7):e0288332.

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Relationship between posttraumatic growth and help-seeking behavior in use of psychosocial support services among patients with cancer.

Matsui T, Taku K J Cancer Surviv. 2023; 18(6):1771-1781.

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Examining the Role of Resilience, Posttraumatic Growth, and Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer: A Serial Multiple Mediator Model Approach.

Longcoy L, Wu W, Wei C, Doorenbos A Semin Oncol Nurs. 2023; 39(4):151441.

PMID: 37149439 PMC: 10524348. DOI: 10.1016/j.soncn.2023.151441.

Trajectories of Learned Helplessness in Maintenance Haemodialysis Patients and Their Predictive Effects on Self-Management: A Latent Growth Mixture Modeling Approach.

Xie C, Li L, Li Y Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2023; 16:351-361.

PMID: 36798876 PMC: 9926927. DOI: 10.2147/PRBM.S401380.

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