1. Posttraumatic growth and illness perception in survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer.
- Author
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Bolliger C, Holmer P, Dehler S, Roser K, and Michel G
- Abstract
Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are diagnosed with cancer during a challenging period of life. We aimed to (1) describe positive changes (posttraumatic growth; PTG) and illness perception, and (2) determine associations between PTG and illness perception, sociodemographic, and cancer-related characteristics in Swiss AYA cancer survivors., Methods: We conducted a population-based survey among AYA cancer survivors diagnosed 1990-2005 at age 16-25 years, who had survived ≥ 5 years. We used the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regressions., Results: Among 389 contacted survivors, 160 responded (61.3% male; mean age = 34 years, SD = 5.8). The mean PTG sum score was 54.63 (SD = 20.24; range: 8-101). Survivors reported high PTG especially in the domains Appreciation of life (mean = 3.23; 95% confidence interval, 3.05-3.40), Personal strength (2.94; 2.77-3.12), and Relating to others (2.57; 2.40-2.74). Neither sociodemographic nor cancer-related characteristics were associated with PTG. Survivors who perceived follow-up care as helpful (p < 0.001) and those with high concerns about the consequences of the illness (p < 0.001) reported higher PTG., Conclusions: Finding ways to promote PTG and to identify and address maladaptive illness perceptions may help survivors transform their experience into something meaningful for their future life., (© 2023. The Author(s).)
- Published
- 2023
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