The Roles of Support Seeking and Race/Ethnicity in Posttraumatic Growth Among Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) after cancer can minimize the emotional impact of disease and treatment; however, the facilitators of PTG, including support-seeking, are unclear. We examined the role of support-seeking on PTG among 604 breast cancer survivors ages 40–64 from the Health Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine predictors of support-seeking (participation in support groups and confiding in healthcare providers) as well as the the relationship between support-seeking and PTG. Support program participation was moderate (61.1%) compared to the high rates of confiding in health professionals (88.6%), and African Americans (AA) were less likely to report participating than Non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs) (Odds Ratio: 0.14 (0.08, 0.23)). The mean (SD) PTG score was 48.8 (27.4) (range 0–105). Support program participation (β=10.4) and confiding in healthcare providers (β=12.9) were associated (p<0.001) with higher PTG. In analyses stratified by race/ethnicity, PTG was significantly higher in both NHW and AA support program participants (p<0.01), but not significantly higher in Hispanics/Latinas. Confiding in a healthcare provider was only associated with PTG for NHWs (p= 0.02). Support program experiences and patient-provider encounters should be examined to determine which attributes facilitate PTG in diverse populations.

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

“…However, the research on social support and PTG in the context of life-threatening illness remains inconclusive. On the one hand, support seeking (Kent et al, 2013) and received social support (Schroevers, Helgeson, Sanderman, & Ranchor, 2010) were positively related to PTG among some cancer patients. Conversely, the link between social support and PTG was not found among cardiac patients (Sheikh, 2004) and other studies conducted on cancer patients (Sears, Stanton, & Danoff-Burg, 2003).…”

Intervenções Grupais para Mulheres com Câncer de Mama: Desafios e Possibilidades

“…Essa categoria compreendeu apenas um estudo. Kent et al (2013) encontraram que o fato de participar de um programa de apoio e confiar nos profissionais de saúde foi associado ao maior crescimento pós-traumático. Como esse construto é definido como a mudança positiva que uma pessoa pode experimentar como resultado de seu processo de luta para sobreviver emocionalmente, a uma experiência traumática, pode-se afirmar que os grupos potencializam a elaboração psicológica do impacto dessas vivências e favorecem a assimilação das aprendizagens e benefícios que podem advir do contato com situações adversas.…”

A Review of Posttraumatic Growth and Help‐Seeking Behavior in Cancer Survivors: Effects of Distal and Proximate Culture

“…PTG has been observed in a sample of not only cancer patients but also other people, such as those who experienced natural disaster (Nakagawa et al, 2014), husbands of breast cancer survivors (Weiss, 2004), the bereaved (Taku, Calhoun, Cann, & Tedeschi, 2008), parents of children with life-threatening disease (Forinder & Norberg, 2013), and people with HIV/AIDS (Milam, 2004). One study examining PTG among cancer survivors revealed that approximately 87% of them have experienced PTG at most; however, the prevalence rate varies depending on the characteristics of participants, such as age, gender, race, and the site or stage of cancer (Arpawong, Richeimer, Weinstein, Elghamrawy, & Milam, 2013;Brix et al, 2013;Crawford, Vallance, Holt, & Courneya, 2015;Danhauer et al, 2013;Kent et al, 2013;Lelorain, Bonnaud-Antignac, & Florin, 2010;Nenova, DuHamel, Zemon, Rini, & Redd, 2013;Wang et al, 2014;Wilson, Morris, & Chambers, 2014;Zebrack et al, 2014).…”