Amazon Heart: An Exploration of the Role of Challenge Events in Personal Growth After Breast Cancer

Abstract

High-profile events where in response to the experience of breast cancer women take on adventure activities to raise awareness and/or funds for breast cancer are increasing. These activities offer physical and psychological challenges within a peer support group setting. We investigated the experiences of 21 breast cancer survivors who participated in a 7-day breast cancer awareness motorcycle ride. Assessments included a qualitative pre/postinterview, solicited diary, pre-6-month follow-up survey. Measures included satisfaction with life, distress, happiness, global well being, meaning in life. Motivators were a desire for peer support, to promote breast cancer awareness, enjoyment, and personal growth. The ride incorporated physical and emotional challenge. A positive peer support experience led to feelings of inner peace, accomplishment, self-learning, a positive perspective, and improved social support. For a minority of women peer support or recreational expectations were not met resulting in negative feelings. No significant changes were observed over time in adjustment measures. Adventure events where women undertake emotional and physical challenge in an environment of group peer support provide opportunity for personal growth. In this context, peer support may provide the catalyst for the experience to become transformational and so is critical to generating positive outcomes. Realistic expectations of the ride are also influential.

Social support mediates the association between benefit finding and quality of life in caregivers

“…Further, our results are consistent with qualitative studies showing that benefit finding is associated with receiving positive social support from peers (Dunn et al, 2009), implying a mediating effect of benefiting finding -adjustment relationships.…”

“…given that one of the perceived gains associated with benefit finding is improved social relationships, this pathway is highly plausible (Dunn et al, 2009). To our knowledge this is the first study to test these associations.…”

“…Although one qualitative study of female breast cancer survivors found that the women's reports of benefit finding was linked to receiving positive social support from peers (Dunn et al, 2009), implying a mediating effect. Thus, given the associations between social support, benefit finding and QoL, it is possible that these predictors are interacting together and that the process through which benefit finding exerts its influence on caregiver QoL could be through social support.…”

Motorcycles and breast cancer: The influence of peer support and challenge on distress and posttraumatic growth

“…The ride elicits strong emotions, anxiety and fear for participants as they face these new experiences and overcome the physical challenges [20]. This event can also provide a catalyst for PTG [20,21]. An initial qualitative study showed prominent themes reported by participants to include identifying with other cancer survivors and close connections with the women and the whole group [21].…”

Experienced meditators, cancer survivors, and matched controls assemble different neural resources to process emotion

“…As a consequence, survivors may devote much time and effort to strengthening and developing confidence in their bodies again, to the point of establishing new physical identities as capable athletes (e.g., Dunn, Campbell, Penn, Dwyer, & Chambers, 2009;Parry, 2008;Sabiston, McDonough, & Crocker, 2007).…”