Posttraumatic growth and adjustment among individuals with cancer or HIV/AIDS: A meta-analysis

Abstract

This is the unspecified version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. (Milam, 2004;Milam, 2006a;Siegel & Schrimshaw, 2000). Likewise, data suggest that between 60% and 90% of cancer survivors also report positive changes (Collins, Taylor, & Skokan, 1990; Fromm, Andrykowski, & Hunt, 1996;Petrie, Buick, Weinman, & Booth, 1999; Rieker, Edbril, & Garnick, 1985). Within the general PTG literature three common categories of growth an individual's basic beliefs about the self and the world and that some type of meaning making or cognitive processing to rebuild these beliefs and goals occurs, resulting in perceptions that one has grown through the process (Horowitz, 1986;Janoff-Bulman, 2004;Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004). Although offering different levels of explanation at both the social cognitive and biological evolutionary levels, they are complimentary in that they are underpinned by the notion that people are intrinsically motivated towards growth (Joseph & Linley, 2006). Permanent repository linkAn important issue to be addressed in the literature is whether PTG following the diagnosis of a life-threatening illness is associated with psychological and physical benefits (Zoellner & Maercker, 2006). However, the current literature is unclear. Therefore, it remains to be established whether the experience of PTG in relation to a life-threatening illness confers any benefit in terms of psychological or physical health. Given the discrepant findings on this relationship a systematic integration of the literature is needed, and a meta-analysis is an ideal tool to do this. A previous meta-analysis conducted by Helgeson, Reynolds, and Tomich (2006) investigated the association between PTG and adjustment after a wide range of events such as sexual assault, natural disaster, bereavement, childhood abuse and illness. They found that PTG was related to more positive affect and less depression, but also to more intrusive thoughts about the event. PTG was unrelated to anxiety, distress, quality of life and subjective physical health. As such the aim of the current paper is to present a meta-analysis of the existing literature that will aim to objectively summarize PTG and its relation to adjustment in individuals living with a life threatening illness (cancer or HIV/AIDS) and to examine potential moderators of this

Stress and posttraumatic growth among survivors of breast cancer: A test of curvilinear effects.

“…Specifically, PTG was greater for females, younger individuals, and people who self-identify as being of minority status and it related to higher positive affect, optimism, religiosity, and positive reappraisal, increased stress perceptions and intrusiveavoidant thoughts, lower depression levels, and greater trauma severity . A STRESS AND POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH 5 second meta-analysis including 38 studies with cancer and HIV-positive populations (Sawyer, Ayers, & Field, 2010) generally confirmed the findings. These reviews offer support for the tenets of the PTG model by highlighting the co-occurrence of both positive and negative health outcomes and PTG and a heightened perception of stress in survivors who also experience PTG.…”

The aetiology of post-traumatic stress following childbirth: a meta-analysis and theoretical framework

“…Methodological quality of each study was assessed using a checklist based on Sawyer, Ayers and Field (2010) and Andersen et al (2012). Nine criteria were assessed of: clear study aims; clear inclusion/exclusion criteria; method of data collection; measure of PTSD; sample representativeness; response rate; examination of bias in participants who did not take part or dropped out; prospective design; more than one postpartum data collection point (each rated from 0 -3; total score 0 -27).…”

Social support and posttraumatic growth in a longitudinal study of people living with HIV: the mediating role of positive affect

“…Specifically, PTG occurs with attempts at adapting to an event that is challenging enough to induce a transformation of life and a change in one’s basic life values. Several researchers have observed that this kind of challenging event, which may often trigger growth, is usually a diagnosis accompanied by a struggle with a life-threatening illness (Hefferon, Grealy, & Mutrie, 2009; Sawyer, Ayers, & Field, 2010). …”

“…Luszczynska, Sarkar, and Knoll (2007) observed that PTG was associated with better adherence to treatment among PLWH. Although an increasing number of researchers also highlight positive consequences regarding HIV infection, the nature of PTG among PLWH remains unclear; in particular, researchers investigating PTG among PLWH concentrate primarily on documenting these positive changes, and little attention has been paid to variables that may facilitate or hinder PTG in this patient group (Sawyer et al, 2010). In this study, the relationship between social support and PTG in a one-year longitudinal study of PLWH was examined.…”