The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of perceived threats, optimism, and meaning in life on cancer patients' posttraumatic growth. This study also aims to examine the relationship between each variable, and to identify process in postt...
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of perceived threats, optimism, and meaning in life on cancer patients' posttraumatic growth. This study also aims to examine the relationship between each variable, and to identify process in posttraumatic growth. The participants were 169 cancer patients(26 men and 143 women), and each patient completed a measure of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Life Orientation Test-Revised, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and questions on death anxiety and the stage of cancer as perceived threats. The data were analyzed by correlation analysis, hierarchical regression analysis, and structural equation modeling.
The results of this study can be summarized as follows.
First, current death anxiety was negatively associated with posttraumatic growth. The stage of cancer was positively associated with posttraumatic growth. Death anxiety at the time of cancer diagnosis, however, was not significantly associated with posttraumatic growth.
Second, both optimism and meaning in life were significantly associated with posttraumatic growth. The meaning in life also mediated the relationship between optimism and posttraumatic growth.
These results suggest that psychological treatment is as important as physical treatment for cancer patients. Furthermore, these research finding could be applied as useful data for cancer patients to overcome life risk and to help growth.