Posttraumatic growth after cancer: The role of perceived threat and cognitive processing

Caspari, Jennifer M.; Raque‐Bogdan, Trisha L.; McRae, Cynthia; Simoneau, Teresa L.; Ash-Lee, Susan; Hultgren, Kristin M.

doi:10.1080/07347332.2017.1320347

Cited by 20 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Posttraumatic Growth conceptualizes positive psychological changes that may occur in the aftermath of being diagnosed with cancer. It is based on evidence that major crises have the capacity to overthrow established beliefs and attitudes following the stimulation of cognitive processing 40 . In this context, patients may report a new sense of closeness, love and intimacy in their relationships 41 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of attachment avoidance: A longitudinal mediation model predicting existential distress in patients with advanced cancer

Philipp

Mehnert²,

Koranyi³

et al. 2021

Psycho-Oncology

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Objective Although a protective effect of reliable interpersonal relationships on existential distress has been established, evidence remains inconclusive for attachment insecurity as an underlying factor of persistent psychological distress. We tested a longitudinal model hypothesizing attachment avoidance as a mediator of high demoralization and anxiety over time. Methods We studied 206 patients with advanced cancer (mean age = 59.6, 61% female) participating in an intervention trial. Patients completed self‐report measures for demoralization, anxiety, perceived relatedness, attachment insecurity, and death anxiety. Our mediated path model included perceived relatedness and death anxiety at baseline as predictors, attachment avoidance at baseline as mediator, and demoralization and anxiety at 6‐month follow‐up (N = 125) as outcomes. Results Attachment avoidance partially mediated the relationship between death anxiety and demoralization (β = 0.07, 95% CI 0.02–0.12) and anxiety (β = 0.05, 95% CI 0.001–0.10). Findings for perceived relatedness were less conclusive. Its indirect effects through attachment avoidance were significant for both outcomes (demoralization: β = −0.07, 95% CI −0.13 to −0.02, anxiety: β = −0.05, 95% CI −0.11 to −0.003). Conclusions Due to its trait‐like quality, attachment avoidance may play a less central role in explaining the course of existential distress over time than previous research indicated. Addressing change‐sensitive relational concerns in psychosocial interventions may be more effective to alleviate existential distress.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of attachment avoidance: A longitudinal mediation model predicting existential distress in patients with advanced cancer

Philipp

Mehnert²,

Koranyi³

et al. 2021

Psycho-Oncology

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“…Consequently, cancer survivors may have inadequate ability to change cognitive focus, making it difficult to process their experience in a deliberate and positive way (Caspari et al, 2017) Women who attach a great significance to the trauma may be motivated to search for new meaning in their life. This could in turn enhance psychological growth and decrease depressive symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, if depressed, cancer survivors may involve in negative rumination and a perseverative cognitive style, which is defined as persistent thoughts about one's symptoms of distress, and the possible causes and consequences of these symptoms (Nolen-Hoeksema & Davis, 2004). Consequently, cancer survivors may have inadequate ability to change cognitive focus, making it difficult to process their experience in a deliberate and positive way (Caspari et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Posttraumatic growth in breast cancer survivors: Are depressive symptoms really negative predictors?

Romeo¹,

Tella²,

Ghiggia³

et al. 2020

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

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Objective: Breast cancer (BC) diagnosis is a potentially traumatic event, the related challenges of which can trigger positive or negative reactions. Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is defined as a positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle. The present study aimed to shed light on the relationship between the evolution of depressive symptoms over time and PTG in a group of BC survivors. Method: Depressive symptoms at the time of diagnosis (T0) and two years later (T1) were evaluated to investigate their potential impact on the level of PTG at T1. A total of 147 BC patients were recruited and divided into four groups according to the changes in depressive symptoms they experienced over time (patients who were 'never depressed', 'no longer depressed', 'still depressed', and 'depressed now'). A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was run to compare the levels of PTG for the four groups. Results: One-way ANOVA showed that PTG score was significantly different among groups with different levels of depressive symptoms (p = .008). Post hoc comparisons indicated that the PTG score was statistically significantly higher in the 'no longer depressed' group compared to the 'still depressed' and 'depressed now' groups. Conclusions: The current results suggest that high levels of depressive symptoms, displayed at the time of cancer diagnosis, can be considered catalysts for PTG at follow-up, on condition that women experience elevated depressive symptoms only in the first period of the disease.

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“…In the same way that staging and plot progression are both present to some degree throughout a narrative, the cognitive tension that arises from conflict is theorized to be present throughout a story, even to some degree at or near the very beginning ( 21 ). Over the years, several researchers have discovered that a group of cognitive processing words (e.g., “think,” “believe,” “understand,” and “cause”) reflects the sense-making process that people engage in while working through a conflict or challenge in their life ( 22 , 23 ). Further, when people are uncertain of an answer to a complex problem, cognitive process words are used at higher rates than if the person is absolutely certain of the answer ( 24 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The narrative arc: Revealing core narrative structures through text analysis

2020

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Scholars across disciplines have long debated the existence of a common structure that underlies narratives. Using computer-based language analysis methods, several structural and psychological categories of language were measured across ~40,000 traditional narratives (e.g., novels and movie scripts) and ~20,000 nontraditional narratives (science reporting in newspaper articles, TED talks, and Supreme Court opinions). Across traditional narratives, a consistent underlying story structure emerged that revealed three primary processes: staging, plot progression, and cognitive tension. No evidence emerged to indicate that adherence to normative story structures was related to the popularity of the story. Last, analysis of fact-driven texts revealed structures that differed from story-based narratives.

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Posttraumatic growth after cancer: The role of perceived threat and cognitive processing

Cited by 20 publications

References 39 publications

The role of attachment avoidance: A longitudinal mediation model predicting existential distress in patients with advanced cancer

The role of attachment avoidance: A longitudinal mediation model predicting existential distress in patients with advanced cancer

Posttraumatic growth in breast cancer survivors: Are depressive symptoms really negative predictors?

The narrative arc: Revealing core narrative structures through text analysis

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