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Posttraumatic growth in breast cancer survivors: does age matter?
Author(s) -
Boyle Chloe C.,
Stanton Annette L.,
Ganz Patricia A.,
Bower Julienne E.
Publication year - 2017
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.4091
Subject(s) - posttraumatic growth , breast cancer , mood , coping (psychology) , distress , clinical psychology , expansive , cancer , psychology , medicine , compressive strength , materials science , composite material
Objective Many women report positive life changes, or posttraumatic growth (PTG), as a result of their experience with breast cancer. However, despite compelling evidence that younger age at diagnosis is associated consistently with greater distress, age has not been integrated into models of PTG. Drawing from the theoretical and empirical literature, we tested whether key correlates (i.e., cancer‐related impact and engagement, positive mood) of PTG varied by age at breast cancer diagnosis. Methods Participants were 175 women with early stage breast cancer followed from completion of primary treatment through one year post‐treatment. Analyses involved data collected at the one‐year assessment. Results As hypothesized, correlates of PTG varied significantly as a function of age. Perceived negative impact of the cancer experience was associated with growth for older women ( p = .046), whereas approach‐oriented coping ( p = .004), an expansive time perspective ( p = .007), and positive mood were associated with growth for younger women ( p = .007). Conclusions PTG may involve distinct processes for women diagnosed at different ages. Consideration of lifespan developmental processes is necessary when studying positive adjustment to cancer. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.