Do sociodemographic and disease‐related variables influence benefit‐finding in cancer patients?

Abstract

This study examined patients' perceptions that having cancer led to positive life changes, or benefit-finding (BF), e.g. improved relationships, enhanced appreciation of life, increased resilience and self-reliance. We investigated the relations between BF, sociodemographic (e.g. gender, age, marital status, education, income) and disease-related variables (e.g. severity of disease or cancer stage, time since diagnosis). The sample was comprised of 83 men and women with various types of cancer, and all 4 stages of disease were represented. Participants were most likely to be Caucasian (90%), married (66%) and well-educated (68% partial college/specialized training). Of the demographic variables investigated, younger age was associated with greater BF scores. As hypothesized, BF also differed by stage of disease in a curvilinear fashion. Individuals with stage II disease had significantly higher BF scores than those with Stage IV or Stage I cancer. Time since diagnosis and treatment status (i.e. currently in treatment, completed treatment, no treatment) were not related to BF. Findings suggest that stage of disease is an important factor to consider when investigating positive perceptions of disease in individuals with cancer.

Health-related Quality of Life, Fatigue, and Posttraumatic Growth of Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy: A Longitudinal Study

“…Nevertheless, we found significant negative correlations between PWB and PTGI total scores: people with lower PWB reported greater PTG. Physical symptoms may remind patients of the threat caused by their illness and, as other studies have shown, greater feelings of threat may prompt more positive changes (PTG) (Barakat et al 2006;Lechner et al 2003). In addition, positive correlations were reported between SFWB and PTGI total scores, indicating that patients with greater perceived social support experienced more positive changes.…”

Finding benefit in breast cancer: Relations with personality, coping, and concurrent well-being

“…Evidence on SES is contradictory: higher benefit finding has been reported among lower SES women (Tomich & Helgeson, 2004), among higher-income women (Cordova et al, 2001), and among women with more education (Sears, Stanton & Danoff-Burg, 2003). There is evidence that higher disease stage induces greater benefit (Tomich & Helgeson, 2004) at least up to Stage II cancers (Lechner et al, 2003), consistent with the idea that stress induces benefit. Also consistent with that interpretation, one study found a positive relation of stress with some measures of benefit finding (Sears et al, 2003); another found a similar relation, but only if the cancer experience met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (Cordova et al, 2001).…”

“…In the cancer literature, there is some indication that benefit finding occurs more among minority women (Tomich & Helgeson, 2004) and patients who are younger (Lechner et al, 2003). Evidence on SES is contradictory: higher benefit finding has been reported among lower SES women (Tomich & Helgeson, 2004), among higher-income women (Cordova et al, 2001), and among women with more education (Sears, Stanton & Danoff-Burg, 2003).…”

“…Many patients report outcomes such as improved personal resources, enhanced sense of purpose, greater spirituality, closer relations with others, and changes in life priorities (e.g., Andrykowski, Brady & Hunt, 1993;Collins, Taylor & Skokan, 1990;Cordova, Cunningham, Carlson & Andrykowski, 2001;Curbow, Legro, Baker, Wingard & Somerfield, 1993;Dow, Ferrell, Leigh, Ly & Gulasekaram, 1996;Fromm, Andrykowski & Hunt, 1996;Ho, Chan & Ho, 2004;Kahn & Steeves, 1993;Kurtz, Wyatt & Kurtz, 1995;Lechner et al, 2003;Stanton et al, 2002;Taylor, Lichtman & Wood, 1984;Weiss, 2002). Though it may seem paradoxical, some patients say that having been diagnosed with cancer has on the whole been a positive experience in their lives.…”

Making sense of resilience: A review from the field of paediatric psycho-oncology and a proposal of a model for its study. [Explicando la resiliencia: una revisión desde la psico-oncología pediátrica y una propuesta de modelo para su estudio]

“…Although recently, the study of BF has gained attention from the scope of psychooncology, most studies have focused on adult patients (Antoni et al, 2001;Bower & Segerstrom, 2004;Carver & Antoni, 2004;Cordova, Cunningham, Carlson & Andrykowsi, 2001;Cruess et al, 2000;Lechner, Antoni & Zakowski, 2002;Lechner, Carver, Antoni, Weaver & Phillips, 2006;Lechner, Zakowski & Antoni, 2003;McGregor et al 2004;Mols, Vingerhoets, Coebergh & van den Poll-France, 2009;Reiker et al, 1985;Sears et al 2003;Thornton, 2002;Tomich & Helgeson, 2004;Weaver, Llabre, Lechner, Penedo & Antoni, 2008). The results of these studies have shown that most of the survivors report positive consequences such as: the development of closer bonds with relatives and/or friends, a more sensitive approach or greater interest in religion and/or spirituality, as well as a more positive life scope.…”