Relationships between satisfaction with life, posttraumatic growth, coping strategies, and resilience in cancer survivors: A network analysis approach

Resilience's impact on quality of life and post-traumatic growth in breast cancer patients during treatment

BACKGROUND

This article aims to examine how psychological resilience influences the interplay between quality of life and post-traumatic growth among breast cancer patients receiving follow-up care and treatment in Türkiye.

METHODS

The study involved 119 female individuals diagnosed with breast cancer who visited the Oncology outpatient clinic at a state hospital in Türkiye from January to September 2023. Data were gathered through the administration of a survey form and the utilization of several assessment tools, including the Adult Life Quality Scale in Cancer Survivors (QLACS), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 25 software.

RESULTS

The participants demonstrated an inverse correlation between Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) and two QLACS sub-dimensions, namely recurrence and family concern. Conversely, a positive association was identified between PTG and the advantages of dealing with cancer. Furthermore, a statistically significant positive association was established between BRS and all QLACS sub-dimensions, except for family concern and appearance. However, it was determined that psychological resilience did not act as a moderator in the relationship between PTG and QLACS.

CONCLUSION

It is important to enhance psychological resilience in women who have survived cancer at all stages of the cancer journey, including the years after treatment, to have a positive impact on post-traumatic growth and quality of life.

The experience of fertility concerns in patients with testicular cancer: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Testicular cancer usually occurs in young adult men between the ages of 20 and 40 years, which largely coincides with the age of men's reproductive intentions. However, a serious side effect of testicular cancer therapy could reduce the fertility of patients.

PURPOSE

To explore the experience of fertility concerns in patients with testicular cancer.

METHODS

A phenomenological research was conducted on 12 patients with testicular cancer. Data collection was from May 2023 to August 2023, and Colaizzi analysis method was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Four themes were found: (1) multiple worries and negative emotions, (2) fertility decision-making faces many challenges, (3) self-coping strategies for facing fertility concerns, (4) unmet supportive care needs.

CONCLUSION

Medical staff should pay attention to the fertility needs of patients with testicular cancer and provide relevant interventions and support to reduce their fertility concerns.

Characterizing the post-traumatic growth trajectory in gastric cancer survivors: a population-based longitudinal study

OBJECTIVES

Post-traumatic growth can improve the quality of life of cancer survivors. The objective of this study was to investigate post-traumatic growth heterogeneity trajectory in perioperative gastric cancer survivors, and to identify characteristics that predict membership for each trajectory.

METHODS

Gastric cancer survivors (n = 403) were recruited before surgery, their baseline assessment (including post-traumatic growth and related characteristics) was completed, and post-traumatic growth levels were followed up on the day they left the intensive care unit, at discharge, and 1 month after discharge. Latent growth mixture mode was used to identify the heterogeneous trajectory of post-traumatic growth, and the core predictors of trajectory subtypes were explored using a decision tree model.

RESULTS

Three post-traumatic growth development trajectories were identified among gastric cancer survivors: stable high of PTG group (20.6%), fluctuation of PTG group (44.4%), persistent low of PTG group (35.0%). The decision tree model showed anxiety, coping style, and psychological resilience-which was the primary predictor-might be used to predict the PTG trajectory subtypes of gastric cancer survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

There was considerable variability in the experience of post-traumatic growth among gastric cancer survivors. Recognition of high-risk gastric cancer survivors who fall into the fluctuation or persistent low of PTG group and provision of psychological resilience-centered support might allow medical professionals to improve patients' post-traumatic growth and mitigate the impact of negative outcomes.

The effects of illness perception on death anxiety and satisfaction with life in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to determine the effects of illness perception on death anxiety and satisfaction with life in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer.

METHODS

This cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted with 125 patients with cancer who were admitted to the oncology clinic of a university hospital in the Central Anatolian Region of Turkey between March and December 2022 and who met the research criteria and accepted to participate in the study. The data were collected with "Patient descriptive information form," "Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ)," "Scale of Death Anxiety (SDA)," and "Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)."

RESULTS

It was found that mean BIPQ score of the patients was 39.54 ± 12.82, the mean SDA score was 8.02 ± 3.16, and the mean SWLS score was 14.74 ± 5.19. BIPQ total score was found to affect SDA total score positively (β = .751) and SWLS total score negatively (β = - .591). SDA total score was found to affect SWLS total score negatively (β = -.216) (p < .05).

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

It was found that patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer had moderate level of illness perception and life satisfaction, and high death anxiety. It was found that as illness perception of the patients increased, their death anxiety increased and satisfaction with life decreased. In addition, it was found that as the death anxiety of patients increased, their satisfaction with life decreased.

Network connectivity between psychological resilience and depression in prostate cancer patients

OBJECTIVES

Prostate cancer (PCa) patients often experience depression. One possible buffer against stress-related depression is psychological resilience (PR), which has been described as heterogeneous in structure, like major depressive disorder (MDD). Although both of these constructs are central to understanding and assisting distressed PCa patients, no data have been reported on how they connect via network arrays at a component and symptom level. Such information has the potential to inform clinical practice with depressed PCa patients.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional design, 555 PCa patients completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Connor-Davison Resilience Scale (CDRISC). Data were analysed via network analysis.

RESULTS

Network analysis indicated that various CDRISC factors interacted with different PHQ-9 symptoms. For example, trust in one's instincts, tolerance of negative affect, and strengthening effects of stress (CDRISC) was associated with concentration problems and suicidal ideation (PHQ-9); positive acceptance of change, and secure relationships (CDRISC) was linked to low self-worth, anhedonia, fatigue/lethargy, motor problems, depressed mood, and concentration and appetite problems (PHQ-9). Similarly heterogeneous associations were found between individual CDRISC items and PHQ-9 symptoms. Network analytic figures depict both these sets of associations.

CONCLUSIONS

As well as confirming the heterogeneous nature of PR and MDD in PCa patients, these findings argue for the further development of 'individualised' medicine approaches when working with PCa patients and their experiences of depression.

Dynamic structure of posttraumatic growth among victims of the 2021 Henan floods: A 6-month, three-wave longitudinal study

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) following traumatic events is a dynamic and transformational process. However, its dynamic structure is currently unknown. The study aimed to estimate the dynamic structure of PTG at the nuance level based on PTG measurement items using network analysis. A three-wave longitudinal study was conducted from July 20, 2021, to January 30, 2022, among the victims experiencing the 2021 Henan floods. The final sample (n = 297) completed reports of PTG after 0, 3, and 6 months of the disaster. We employed the graphical vector autoregressive model approach to estimate extended network models. Contemporaneous network results revealed strong positive associations between domains of PTG in the same measurement window, especially between new possibilities and personal strength. Moreover, temporal network results-the internal interplays among PTG items across measurement windows-revealed that the domain of relating to others plays a central role in the dynamics of PTG. Although other domains predicted an increase in relating to others, relating to others inhibited the development of other domains, especially new possibilities and personal strength. Our study identifies the culture-specific process of PTG and provides empirical evidence on the explanatory models of PTG and the Janus-Face model of PTG.

Unchanging dynamics in posttraumatic growth in cancer patients: ways of coping and illness perception

Introduction

This study aims to address the positive changes due to traumatic experiences, such as being diagnosed with cancer and experiencing this disease for a certain period. Within this purpose, socio-demographic and disease-related variables, coping ways and illness perceptions that affect posttraumatic growth in cancer patients were examined. Secondly, the findings of this study, which is one of the first studies on posttraumatic growth in cancer patients in Turkey, were compared with the findings of current studies on the subject.

Method

Datums were collected by an interview form and three scales (Posttraumatic Growth Scale, Ways of Coping Inventory and Illness Perception Scale-R) to 78 cancer outpatients in Istanbul University Oncology Institute in 2007.

Results

Results showed that cancer patients have higher posttraumatic growth levels than the mean. According to analysis, posttraumatic growth total score between confrontive coping (t = -2.344, p < 0.05), self-controlling (t = -3.704, p < 0.001), accepting responsibility (t = -3.032, p < 0.01), escape-avoidance (t = -2.285, p < 0.05), planful problem solving (t = -2.502, p < 0.05), positive reappraisal (t = -5.241, p < 0.001), and seeking social support (t = -3.527, p < 0.01) has relationship. Also, there is a relation between posttraumatic growth subscales and the Revised form of Illness Perception Questionnaire; Change in relationships with others subscale (t = 2.887, p < 0.01) and Change in self-perception subscale (t = 2.660, p < 0.01) between timeline (acute/chronic), Change in self-perception subscale between timeline (cyclical) (t = -2.788, p < 0.01) and uncontrollable body factors (t = -1.916, p < 0.05) Change in philosophy of life subscale between external attributions (t = -2.057, p < 0.05) and Change in relationships with others subscale (t = -2.920, p < 0.01) between chance factors. It was found that positive reappraisal (F = 78.290, p < 0.001), self-controlling (F = 39.814, p < 0.001), and distancing (F = 46.311, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of posttraumatic growth total score. Results showed that ways of coping and illness perceptions were essential variables in posttraumatic growth.

Discussion

Studies on posttraumatic growth in Turkey and the world have significantly increased in recent years. This study aimed to examine the findings obtained from cancer patients in 2007 in discussion with the findings in the current literature. In this context, it is seen that the relevant variables affecting posttraumatic growth in cancer patients in different cultures do not change.

Solace for the Cankered Soul

The scourge of cancer mortally wounds the soul. From the time of diagnosis, the spiritual shock should be recognized, acknowledged, and addressed in concert with the personalized management strategy for the tumor. Optimal cancer care treats both body and soul. Psycho-oncology theory defines existential issues and spirituality in conceptually ambiguous terms but, in reality, such afflictions of the spirit cause great suffering in cancer patients. Patients often seek reassurance that their life has purpose and meaning, and the provision of emotional and soulful support from their oncologist is of inestimable importance to spiritual well-being. In addition to the time and resource constraints of daily clinical practice, recent challenges to the personal doctor-patient relationship include e-medicine and virtual clinical encounters, and the potential disruption to be wrought by new generation artificial intelligence. These obstacles are addressed with a view to the physician being able to continue to provide empathic compassionate care. The art of Kintsugi is invoked to offer a metaphor for restoration of the soul afflicted by cancer.

Roles of benefit finding in psychological and inflammatory adjustments in persons with colorectal cancer: a prospective analysis on the multidimensionality of benefit finding

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the unique associations of different dimensions of the resilience factor, benefit finding, on concurrent and prospective psychological and biological adjustment outcomes over the first year after a colorectal cancer diagnosis.

METHODS AND MEASURES

Individuals newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer (n = 133, mean age = 56 years old, 59% female, 46% Hispanic) completed questionnaires assessing the multidimensional aspects of benefit finding around 4 months post-diagnosis (T1). Psychological (depressive symptoms and life satisfaction) and biological [C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-10 (IL-10)] adjustments were assessed at T1 and one-year post-diagnosis (T2).

RESULTS

Structural equation modeling revealed that at T1, greater reprioritization was concurrently related to higher depressive symptoms (p=.020). Lower acceptance, lower empathy, and greater positive self-view predicted higher life satisfaction at T2 (ps<.010). Additionally, lower empathy and greater family valuation predicted higher CRP at T2 (ps<.004), whereas greater positive self-view predicted higher IL-10 at T2 (p=.039). Greater overall benefit finding was associated with lower IL-10 at T1 (p=.013).

CONCLUSION

Various aspects of benefit finding differentially relate to psychological and inflammatory markers during the first year after diagnosis in persons with colorectal cancer. Interventions designed to specifically enhance positive self-view may promote both the psychological and biological health of individuals with cancer.

The nature and content of rumination for head and neck cancer survivors

Introduction

Head and neck cancer (HNC) diagnosis and treatment can be a significant life trauma. Some HNC survivors experience post-traumatic growth (PTG), which has been linked with better health-related quality-of-life. Empirical research on PTG, and theoretical models, point to the importance of being able to purposely make sense of the traumatic experience. Intrusive rumination, by contrast, is linked to poorer outcomes. This study explored HNC survivors' experiences of rumination.

Methods

Twenty HNC survivors between 9 months and 5 years post-diagnosis were recruited (11 male, 9 female, age range 46-83). They had a range of HNC sub-types and cancer treatments. Participants underwent a semi-structured interview about their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Reflexive thematic analysis identified themes and sub-themes around rumination.

Results

Four themes with linked subthemes on the content and process of rumination were identified. Theme 1 was rumination and worry related to diagnosis. Here, survivors discussed how the HNC diagnosis and plans for treatment had dominated their initial thoughts. Theme 2 was processing the trauma of HNC. This theme reflected rumination on the traumatic experience of diagnosis and treatment and how the participant was reacting to it. Theme 3 was considering the impact. This theme encompassed retrospective thinking (e.g., on treatment decisions made) and comparisons between the participant now versus the early days after diagnosis. Theme 4 was continued rumination. This theme included ongoing intrusive and distressing rumination about the trauma and impact of cancer. Those who expressed ongoing rumination revisited fears (e.g., concerns about their future) or returned to negative experiences (e.g., distressing exchanges with healthcare professionals or what they perceived as poor care).

Conclusion

This study uniquely describes the nature and content of rumination following HNC. Early intrusive rumination is common and may reflect perceptions of cancer as an existential threat. Over time, rumination can become more reflective and move towards deliberate meaning-making. Some HNC survivors may benefit from interventions to reduce barriers to this transition. The content of distressing and difficult to control rumination (commonly focused on ongoing fears or inability to resolve difficult experiences) helps to identify those who may benefit from more directed psychological support.