Mechanisms of navigating goals after testicular cancer: meaning and emotion regulation

Abstract

Objective The navigation of major life goals can be challenging to cancer survivors, particularly during young adulthood. This study examined the relationships of goal navigation skills (e.g., goal identification, goal clarification, goal adjustment) with having a sense of life meaning, emotion regulation coping processes, and physical and psychological health indicators in young adult survivors of testicular cancer. Methods Men ages 18 to 29 (N=171; M age=25.2, SD=3.32) with a history of testicular cancer were recruited via the California State Cancer Registry and completed questionnaire measures including assessments of goal navigation, sense of meaning, emotional approach coping, and indicators of physical and psychological well-being. Results Goal navigation skills were negatively related to depressive symptoms (r = −.41, p < .01) and positively related to physical functioning (r = .28, p < .01). Controlling for participant age and months since diagnosis, mediation models revealed significant indirect effects of sense of meaning on depressive symptoms (−.50, p < 0.05) and physical functioning (.34, p < 0.05). Similarly, emotion-regulating coping had significant indirect effects on depressive symptoms (−.08, p < 0.05) and physical functioning (.11, p < 0.05). Conclusions Consistent with a self-regulation framework, goal navigation skill is related to physical and psychological well-being via its association with maintenance of a sense of meaning as well as successful attempts at regulation of emotions. The study provides preliminary evidence that these skill-based processes relate to adjustment to cancer in young adults.

Exploring emotion regulation as a mediator of the relationship between resilience and distress in cancer

“…Of the DERS subscales, difficulties with emotional clarity and strategies were the only significant pathways between resilience and distress, suggesting that they may be important unique mechanisms between the two factors. The use of emotion regulation strategies has previously been demonstrated as important in determining how one adjusts to cancer, but have mostly focused on one or two strategies at a time . This study is the first to show that as a whole, difficulties in accessing strategies to manage one's emotional response was significantly associated with increased distress.…”

“…The use of emotion regulation strategies has previously been demonstrated as important in determining how one adjusts to cancer, but have mostly focused on one or two strategies at a time. [27][28][29][30] This study is the first to show that as a whole, difficulties in accessing strategies to manage one's emotional response was significantly associated with increased distress.…”

Goal-Focused Emotion-Regulation Therapy (GET) for young adult survivors of testicular cancer: a pilot randomized controlled trial of a biobehavioral intervention protocol

“…In regression analyses controlling for age and time since diagnosis, goal navigation was positively associated with emotional (B = 0.35, p < 0.001), social (B = 0.24, p < 0.01), and functional (B = 0.28, p < 0.001) wellbeing [41]. Further, a theoretical model of goal navigation using a self-regulation framework was identified and tested [42]. Goal navigation skills were negatively correlated with depressive symptoms (r = − 0.41, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with physical functioning (r = 0.28, p < 0.01), and these were mediated by possessing a sense of meaning in goal pursuit (indirect effects: depressive symptoms (r = − 0.50, p < 0.05), physical health (r = 0.34, p < 0.05)) and emotion regulation skill (indirect effects: depressive symptoms (r = − 0.08, p < 0.05), physical health (r = 0.11, p < 0.05)).…”

Adult self-image and well-being after testicular cancer: The role of agency and meaning

“…Young adults who have a greater sense of meaning in life and who are committed to meaningful goals demonstrate greater well-being (Dezutter et al, 2014; Sumner, Burrow, & Hill, 2015). For young adult survivors of testicular cancer, sense of meaning is associated with fewer depressive symptoms and greater well-being (Hoyt, Nelson, Darabos, Marín‐Chollom, & Stanton, 2016).…”