Posttraumatic Growth, Coping Strategies, and Psychological Distress in Adolescent Survivors of Cancer

Abstract

Only recently have researchers begun to empirically examine positive outcomes such as posttraumatic growth in adolescent cancer. This article examines associations between posttraumatic growth, coping strategies, and psychological distress in adolescent cancer survivors. Adolescents who finished cancer treatment 2 to 10 years prior (N = 31) completed self-report measures of posttraumatic growth, coping, symptomatology, and disease-related characteristics. Younger age at diagnosis and less use of avoidant coping strategies predicted lower levels of psychological distress. Adolescents’ beliefs that they were more likely to relapse and the use of more acceptance coping strategies predicted higher levels of posttraumatic growth. Adolescent cancer survivors may be capable of experiencing posttraumatic growth. Those who believe they are more prone to relapse and use more acceptance coping strategies are likely to have higher levels of posttraumatic growth. As health care professionals encourage adolescent cancer survivors to use fewer avoidant coping strategies, they can also encourage survivors to use more acceptance coping strategies.

Posttraumatic Growth in Parents and Pediatric Patients

“…We identified 17 studies examining PTG in parents of children with pediatric disease 5,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] (see Table 1), 7 studies that demonstrated PTG or benefit finding in children with pediatric disease [42][43][44][45][46][47][48] (see Table 2), and 2 that included both parents and pediatric patients. 49,50 We summarize the findings from these studies in the nine components of our conceptual model of SPI-PTG: (1) the nature and subjective experience of the traumatic event, (2) trauma and the disruption of a personal worldview, (3) PTG as rebuilding or reshaping this worldview, (4) elements of SPI-PTG, (5) cognitive processing underlying SPI-PTG, (6) affective processing underlying SPI-PTG, (7) posttraumatic afterevents, (8) individual characteristics affecting SPI-PTG, and (9) social support affecting SPI-PTG (see Fig.…”

“…38,[52][53][54] Correspondingly, in pediatric studies the objective severity level of medical illness or risks of treatment are generally not associated with the degree of posttraumatic stress or PTG in parents or patients (although two studies have shown that PTG varies with type of diagnosis). 1,10,40,[47][48][49][50] Trauma and the disruption of a personal worldview Every individual has his or her own personal understanding of and perspective on the world and interprets life events within the context of this perspective, termed the ''assumptive world.'' This assumptive world consists of a set of cognitive constructs known as ''schemas,'' the basic units of one's understanding of oneself and the world.…”

“…Because a child's assumptive world is underdeveloped, PTG in children is theorized to occur through development of completely novel schemas, rather than reconstruction of pre-formed ones, although the data in support of this hypothesis is mixed. 19,22,47,48,54,79 Additionally, PTSS in the aftermath of cancer diagnosis is more likely to persist if diagnosis occurs during the adolescent period than at a younger age. 1,4 These findings suggest that the process of SPI-PTG depends on accumulated life experience as well as the cognitive maturation of the individual.…”

Nursing Care for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer: Literature Review

“…From the article published by Turner-Sack et al [88], it is apparent that it is imperative to conduct such research on adolescent cancer patients. The need for this stems from other research work conducted on these populations which shows maturity and emotional growth as a result of the disease.…”

“…The chances for a relapse are higher among patients reporting a lower posttraumatic growth. Focusing on positive aspects also leads to positive posttraumatic growth [88]. …”