Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-rnpqb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-26T16:16:45.189Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Correlates of the positive psychological byproducts of cancer: Role of family caregivers and informational support

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2017

Kristin Litzelman Open the ORCID record for Kristin Litzelman [Opens in a new window] ,
Danielle Blanch-Hartigan ,
Chun Cheih Lin  and
Xuesong Han
Kristin Litzelman*
Affiliation:
School of Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
Danielle Blanch-Hartigan
Affiliation:
Department of Natural and Applied Sciences, Bentley University, Waltham, Massachusetts
Chun Cheih Lin
Affiliation:
American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
Xuesong Han
Affiliation:
American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
*
*Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Kristin Litzelman, 4115 Nancy Nicholas Hall, 1300 Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706. E-mail: litzelman@wisc.edu.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

Experiencing a life-threatening illness such as cancer can elicit both negative (e.g., distress) and positive (e.g., growth) psychological responses. The present study sought to determine the correlates of four positive psychological byproducts in cancer survivors: becoming a stronger person, coping better with life's challenges, making positive changes in life, and adopting healthier habits.

Method:

Data for this cross-sectional study were taken from the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS) Experiences with Cancer Survivorship Supplement (Yabroff et al., 2012). Cancer survivors (N = 785) reported their sociodemographic and cancer-related characteristics. Descriptive statistics were utilized to summarize cancer survivor characteristics, including demographic factors, cancer factors, and stressors and resources related to cancer. Multivariable logistic regressions were employed to assess the independent association of the stressors and resources with each psychological response, controlling for covariates. All analyses were weighted to account for the complex sampling design of the MEPS.

Results:

In multivariable analyses, those with a family caregiver were 50% more likely to report better coping with challenges, and around 70% were more likely to report making positive changes in life or adopting healthier habits because of their cancer. Receiving informational support from healthcare providers was also consistently associated with positive byproducts (odds ratios ranging from 1.6 to 2.0). Few of the stressors were associated with positive byproducts: having insurance problems due to cancer was positively associated with becoming a stronger person, and work limitations were associated with making positive changes in life; those who reported high perceived chances of recurrence were less likely to report becoming a stronger person.

Significance of Results:

Having a family caregiver and receiving detailed informational support from healthcare providers were associated with reporting positive experiences with cancer. The hypotheses and future research stimulated by these findings may improve our understanding of the process by which positive byproducts develop and may ultimately help improve psychological well-being among cancer survivors.

Keywords

CancerBenefit findingPersonal growthCaregiversPopulation-based
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 15 , Issue 6 , December 2017 , pp. 693 - 703
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

American Cancer Society (2016). Cancer Facts and Figures 2016. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society. Available from https://old.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@research/documents/document/acspc-047079.pdf.Google Scholar
Andrykowski, M.A., Lykins, E. & Floyd, A. (2008). Psychological health in cancer survivors. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 24(3), 193–201. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3321244/.Google Scholar
Bech, P., Olsen, L.R., Kjoller, M., et al. (2003). Measuring well-being rather than the absence of distress symptoms: A comparison of the SF–36 mental health subscale and the WHO–Five Well-Being Scale. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 12(2), 85–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bell, K. (2012). Remaking the self: Trauma, teachable moments, and the biopolitics of cancer survivorship. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry, 36(4), 584–600. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3496522/.Google Scholar
Ben-Zur, H., Cohen, M. & Gouzman, J. (2015). Posttraumatic growth moderates the effects of posttraumatic stress symptoms on adjustment and positive affective reactions in digestive system cancer patients. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 20(6), 685–696. Epub ahead of print Oct 13.Google Scholar
Bower, J.E., Moskowitz, J.T. & Epel, E. (2009). Is benefit finding good for your health? Pathways linking positive life changes after stress and physical health outcomes. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18(6), 337–341. Available from http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01663.x.Google Scholar
Breitbart, W., Rosenfeld, B., Gibson, C., et al. (2010). Meaning-centered group psychotherapy for patients with advanced cancer: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Psycho-Oncology, 19(1), 21–28. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3648880/.Google Scholar
Chambers, S.K., Girgis, A., Occhipinti, S., et al. (2014). A randomized trial comparing two low-intensity psychological interventions for distressed patients with cancer and their caregivers. Oncology Nursing Forum, 41(4), E256–E266.Google Scholar
Harding, S., Sanipour, F. & Moss, T. (2014). Existence of benefit finding and posttraumatic growth in people treated for head and neck cancer: A systematic review. Peer J, 2, e256. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3933269/.Google Scholar
Henry, M., Cohen, S.R., Lee, V., et al. (2010). The Meaning-Making intervention (MMi) appears to increase meaning in life in advanced ovarian cancer: A randomized controlled pilot study. Psycho-Oncology, 19(12), 1340–1347.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Henselmans, I., Helgeson, V.S., Seltman, H., et al. (2010). Identification and prediction of distress trajectories in the first year after a breast cancer diagnosis. Health Psychology, 29(2), 160–168.Google Scholar
Hewitt, M., Greenfield, S. & Stovall, E. (eds.) (2006). From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Available from https://www.nap.edu/catalog/11468/from-cancer-patient-to-cancer-survivor-lost-in-transition.Google Scholar
Institute of Medicine (2008). Cancer Care for the Whole Patient: Meeting Psychosocial Health Needs. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.Google Scholar
Jeon, M., Yoo, I.Y., Kim, S., et al. (2015). Post-traumatic growth in survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Psycho-Oncology, 24(8), 871–877. Epub ahead of print Nov 10, 2014.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jim, H.S. & Jacobsen, P.B. (2008). Posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth in cancer survivorship: A review. Cancer Journal, 14(6), 414–419.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kolokotroni, P., Anagnostopoulos, F. & Tsikkinis, A. (2014). Psychosocial factors related to posttraumatic growth in breast cancer survivors: A review. Women & Health, 54(6), 569–592.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koutrouli, N., Anagnostopoulos, F. & Potamianos, G. (2012). Posttraumatic stress disorder and posttraumatic growth in breast cancer patients: A systematic review. Women & Health, 52(5), 503–516.Google Scholar
Kyranou, M., Puntillo, K., Aouizerat, B.E., et al. (2014). Trajectories of depressive symptoms in women prior to and for six months after breast cancer surgery. Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research, 19(2), 79–105. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4222520/.Google Scholar
Lazarus, R.S. & Folkman, S. (1987). Transactional theory and research on emotions and coping. European Journal of Personality, 1(3), 141–169.Google Scholar
Llewellyn, C.D., Horney, D.J., McGurk, M., et al. (2013). Assessing the psychological predictors of benefit finding in patients with head and neck cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 22(1), 97–105. Epub ahead of print Sep 14, 2011.Google Scholar
McGregor, B.A. & Antoni, M.H. (2009). Psychological intervention and health outcomes among women treated for breast cancer: A review of stress pathways and biological mediators. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 23(2), 159–166. Epub ahead of print Aug 22, 2008. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2660328/.Google Scholar
McMillen, C., Howard, M.O., Nower, L., et al. (2001). Positive by-products of the struggle with chemical dependency. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 20(1), 69–79.Google Scholar
Moreno, P.I. & Stanton, A.L. (2013). Personal growth during the experience of advanced cancer: A systematic review. Cancer Journal, 19(5), 421–430.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morrill, E.F., Brewer, N.T., O'Neill, S.C., et al. (2008). The interaction of post-traumatic growth and post-traumatic stress symptoms in predicting depressive symptoms and quality of life. Psycho-Oncology, 17(9), 948–953.Google Scholar
Pascoe, L. & Edvardsson, D. (2013). Benefit finding in cancer: A review of influencing factors and health outcomes. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 17(6), 760–766. Epub ahead of print Apr 21.Google Scholar
Pinquart, M., Frohlich, C. & Silbereisen, R.K. (2007). Cancer patients' perceptions of positive and negative illness-related changes. Journal of Health Psychology, 12(6), 907–921. Available from http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1359105307082454.Google Scholar
Ruini, C., Vescovelli, F. & Albieri, E. (2013). Post-traumatic growth in breast cancer survivors: New insights into its relationships with well-being and distress. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 20(3), 383–391.Google Scholar
Sekse, R.J., Raaheim, M., Blaaka, G., et al. (2010). Life beyond cancer: Women's experiences 5 years after treatment for gynaecological cancer. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 24(4), 799–807.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shand, L.K., Cowlishaw, S., Brooker, J.E., et al. (2015). Correlates of post-traumatic stress symptoms and growth in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psycho-Oncology, 24(6), 624–634. Epub ahead of print Nov 12, 2014.Google Scholar
Silva, S.M., Crespo, C. & Canavarro, M.C. (2012). Pathways for psychological adjustment in breast cancer: A longitudinal study on coping strategies and posttraumatic growth. Psychology & Health, 27(11), 1323–1341.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Soo, H. & Sherman, K.A. (2015). Rumination, psychological distress and post-traumatic growth in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 24(1), 70–79. Epub ahead of print Jun 24, 2014.Google Scholar
Stanton, A.L., Bower, J.E. & Low, C.A. (2014). Posttraumatic growth after cancer. In Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth: Research and Practice. Calhoun, L.G. & Tedeschi, R.G. (eds.), pp. 138–175. New York: Psychology Press.Google Scholar
Stanton, A.L., Rowland, J.H. & Ganz, P.A. (2015). Life after diagnosis and treatment of cancer in adulthood: Contributions from psychosocial oncology research. The American Psychologist, 70(2), 159–174. Available from https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/amp-a0037875.pdf.Google Scholar
Strack, J., Lopes, P. & Gaspar, M. (2010). Reappraising cancer: Life priorities and growth. Onkologie, 33(7), 369–374. Epub ahead of print 2010 Jun 22.Google Scholar
Sumalla, E.C., Ochoa, C. & Blanco, I. (2009). Posttraumatic growth in cancer: Reality or illusion? Clinical Psychology Review, 29(1), 24–33. Epub ahead of print Sep 30, 2008.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tedeschi, R.G. & Calhoun, L.G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 1–18. Available from https://classblogdrjackson.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/tedeschi-calhoun-2004-posttraumatic-growth.pdf.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tomich, P.L. & Helgeson, V.S. (2012). Posttraumatic growth following cancer: Links to quality of life. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 25(5), 567–573.Google Scholar
Weaver, K.E., Rowland, J.H., Augustson, E., et al. (2011). Smoking concordance in lung and colorectal cancer patient–caregiver dyads and quality of life. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 20(2), 239–248. Epub ahead of print Dec 21, 2010. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3035926/.Google Scholar
Yabroff, K.R., Dowling, E., Rodriguez, J., et al. (2012). The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Experiences with Cancer Survivorship Supplement. Journal of Cancer Survivorship: Research and Practice, 6(4), 407–419. Epub ahead of print Jul 19.Google Scholar