Relationship Between Post-traumatic Growth and Illness Perception and Emotion Regulation in Patients with Cancer

Abstract

Background: Cancer diagnosis causes emotional problems and profound psychological helplessness in patients. We aimed to investigate the relationship between post-traumatic growth and disease perception and emotion regulation in patients with cancer. Methods: The statistical population of this correlation study was all patients aged 18-65 years with breast, leukemia, and gastrointestinal cancer going to the oncology ward of Omid and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Urmia in the first half of 2021. 250 people (121 women and 129 men) were selected by the purposeful sampling method. Data collection tools included a post-traumatic growth questionnaire, a modified illness perception questionnaire, and the emotion regulation process strategies questionnaire. Pearson’s correlation test and multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results: The results showed that negative illness perception had a significant and negative relationship, and optimistic illness perception had a positive, meaningful relationship with post-traumatic growth (P<0.05). Emotion regulation had a significant and positive association with post-traumatic growth (P<0.05). Conclusion: How to perceive the disease and emotion regulation strategies in patients with cancer have an influential role in promoting post-traumatic growth.

Unchanging dynamics in posttraumatic growth in cancer patients: ways of coping and illness perception

“…The emotional representation entirely mediated the relationships between the five cognitive representation subscales and PTG. Rahimzadegan et al’s (2022) study of PTG and illness perceptions in cancer patients, showed that negative illness perceptions had a significant and negative relationship with PTG, while optimistic illness perceptions had a significant and positive relationship with PTG ( p < 0.05). Taken together, these results indicate the need for interventions that promote PTG in cancer patients, particularly interventions that target illness perceptions, especially emotional representation.…”

“…There is limited literature on illness perception and posttraumatic growth. However, Rahimzadegan et al (2022) reported that negative illness perception is negatively correlated with posttraumatic growth, while positive illness perception is positively correlated in cancer patients. Rogan et al (2013) stated that a firm belief in the controllability of symptoms associated with brain damage and adaptive coping strategies are related to posttraumatic growth.…”

“…This study and previous studies reveal that coping mechanisms such as confrontation, positive reappraisal, and seeking social support are particularly important. In terms of illness perceptions, there have been a limited number of studies in the field, but when this and other studies (e.g., Rogan et al, 2013 ; Lau et al, 2018 ; Rahimzadegan et al, 2022 ) are examined, it can be seen that attributions regarding the timeline of the disease, reasons, and idea on the disease prognosis are important in PTG. Considering that these variables are related to the cognitive evaluation processes of individuals and cognitive ways of coping, especially positive reappraisal and problem-solving, this is an important finding.…”

“…For example, Leal et al (2016) examined PTG, core beliefs, and illness perceptions in women diagnosed with breast cancer using a structural equation model, while Banik (2012) examined PTG, psychological distress, and illness perceptions in people diagnosed with cancer. Rahimzadegan et al (2022) examined the relationships between PTG, illness perceptions, and emotion regulation in cancer patients; they showed that negative illness perceptions were significantly and negatively related to PTG, while optimistic illness perceptions and emotion regulation skills were both significantly and positively related to PTG. Lau et al (2018) examined the relationship between illness perceptions and PTG in newly diagnosed HIV-positive men.…”

The International Clinical Neuroscience Journal; 2022 in a Glance

“…Sixteen published original articles present new and novel assessments, diagnostic methods, prevention, treatment and approaches of neurological disease, and valuable epidemiological features and findings to be used worldwide. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] The International Clinical Neuroscience Journal is supported by Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN). The goal of (ICNJ) is to continue publishing high quality and novel studies especially in areas of tissue engineering, molecular biology, personalized medicine, degenerative diseases and neuromodulation.…”