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Resilience in adults with cancer: development of a conceptual model
Author(s) -
Deshields Teresa L.,
Heiland Mark F.,
Kracen Amanda C.,
Dua Priya
Publication year - 2016
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.3800
Subject(s) - resilience (materials science) , conceptual model , psychology , computer science , physics , thermodynamics , database
Objective Resilience is a construct addressed in the psycho‐oncology literature and is especially relevant to cancer survivorship. The purpose of this paper is to propose a model for resilience that is specific to adults diagnosed with cancer. Methods To establish the proposed model, a brief review of the various definitions of resilience and of the resilience literature in oncology is provided. Results The proposed model includes baseline attributes (personal and environmental) which impact how an individual responds to an adverse event, which in this paper is cancer‐related. The survivor has an initial response that fits somewhere on the distress–resilience continuum; however, post‐cancer experiences (and interventions) can modify the initial response through a process of recalibration. Conclusions The literature reviewed indicates that resilience is a common response to cancer diagnosis or treatment. The proposed model supports the view of resilience as both an outcome and a dynamic process. Given the process of recalibration, a discussion is provided of interventions that might facilitate resilience in adults with cancer. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.