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A structural equation model of posttraumatic growth after prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Wilson Bridget,
Morris Bronwyn A.,
Chambers Suzanne
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.3546
Subject(s) - posttraumatic growth , rumination , context (archaeology) , psychological resilience , psychology , structural equation modeling , distress , clinical psychology , perception , peer support , cancer , developmental psychology , medicine , social psychology , psychiatry , cognition , paleontology , statistics , mathematics , neuroscience , biology
Background Posttraumatic growth (PTG) encompasses an individual's perception of positive personal changes as a consequence of a traumatic incident. The current study tested a theoretical model of PTG with the inclusion of resilience in the context of cancer survivors. Methods Members of a prostate cancer support network were invited to complete a cross‐sectional mail survey ( N = 514, 52.8% response; mean age 70.17 years, and time since diagnosis 7.5 years). Results Challenge appraisal ( β = 0.361), examining core beliefs ( β = 0.474), intrusive rumination ( β = 0.130), and peer support factors ( β = 0.104) had significant direct effects on PTG. Resilience ( β = 0.164), challenge appraisal ( β = 0.215), distress ( β = 0.186), and examining core beliefs ( β = 0.105) had significant indirect effects on PTG. Conclusions Results support the notion that the appraisal of cancer, disruption of fundamental beliefs, and experience of intrusive cancer‐related rumination are associated with PTG. Additionally, a sense of connection with peers and seeking an understanding of the cancer experience through peers is important for the perception of PTG. Possible indirect pathways were also proposed between resilience and PTG. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.