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The NCCN Guidelines for Survivorship are intended to help healthcare professionals address the complex and varied needs of cancer survivors. The NCCN Guidelines provide screening, evaluation, and treatment recommendations for psychosocial and physical problems resulting from adult-onset cancer and its treatment; recommendations to help promote healthy behaviors and immunizations in survivors; and a framework for care coordination. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize recent guideline updates and panel discussions pertaining to sleep disorders, fatigue, and cognitive function in cancer survivors.

To determine the information needs of women with a history of breast cancer attending a cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) program. A mixed-methods approach was used, including a cross-sectional online survey using an adapted version of the Toronto Information Needs Questionnaire Breast Cancer (TINQ-BC) and 7 virtual focus group sessions (n = 20). Overall, 50 responses were received. The TINQ-BC mean was 4.2 ± 0.5/5, with 34/42 items scoring higher than 4 (very important). The highest information needs were related to knowing if cancer is in their bodies or has come back, ways to prevent treatment side effects, and how the illness may affect their future. Participants identified their preferences for education delivery as discussion with peers/healthcare providers and lectures. The focus groups revealed six overarching themes: need for peer support, to make connections, and build relationships; comfort with and utility of technology; desire to learn about specific educational topics; preferences for education sessions; value of education; and value of exercise. These findings provided insight into the information needs of women with a history of breast cancer who participate in CR. The care of these patients should be personalized based on these needs to support their adherence to the program. • The highest needs related to knowing if cancer is in their bodies or has come back. • Also, ways to prevent side effects and how cancer may affect their future. • Preferences for education delivery: discussion with peers/providers and lectures. • The focus groups revealed six overarching themes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To read about the current provision of cancer-related pain services in the UK • To recognise that people with cancer-related pain may be experiencing issues in accessing support services • To acknowledge the need for all healthcare professionals to receive adequate education on cancer-related pain. Background: Cancer-related pain is the most commonly reported symptom across all cancer types. It can have significant effects on the person experiencing it, including reduced quality of life. Cancer-related pain is complex and requires specialist support from the multidisciplinary team to ensure optimal management. Aim: To map the current provision of cancer-related pain services across the UK and understand the support available within them. Method: An online survey was developed by a team of specialists with expertise in cancer-related pain. The survey was circulated via a social media platform to recruit healthcare professionals working for cancer-related pain services. Findings: A total of 63 respondents from across England completed the survey, with no responses received from the other UK nations. The types of services that provided support for people with cancer-related pain included oncology services, pain services and late effects services; 56% (n=35) of services were multiprofessional. There appeared to be some issues with accessing these services, as 37% (n=23) did not accept referrals for those with late effects cancer pain and 21% (n=13) did not accept referrals for those undergoing palliative treatment. All respondents agreed that additional education and support is needed regarding cancer-related pain. Conclusion: The results of this survey indicate that the provision of cancer-related pain services is inconsistent. Further work is necessary to improve access to these services and to ensure that healthcare professionals receive adequate education on cancer-related pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of positive psychological interventions on quality of life, positive psychological outcomes and negative psychological outcomes in patients with cancer. Background: Patients with cancer often suffer from various psychological problems and have a poor quality of life. Positive psychological interventions have been increasingly applied to patients with cancer, but the results of these studies have not been synthesized. Design: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials according to PRISMA. Methods: Six English databases and four Chinese databases were searched from the inception to December 2022. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. RevMan was used for meta‐analysis. Results: Twenty‐nine randomized controlled trials examined the effects of positive psychological interventions including meaning therapy, dignity therapy, positive psychotherapy, mindfulness‐ based intervention, life review, expressive writing intervention, acceptance and commitment psychotherapy, attention and interpretation therapy, compassion training and spiritual therapy on patients with cancer. Positive psychological interventions significantly improved the quality of life, enhanced positive psychological outcomes including well‐being, meaning of life, self‐esteem, optimism, resilience and self‐efficacy and alleviated negative psychological outcomes including depression, anxiety and hopelessness. However, the heterogeneity of some outcomes was rather high, due to the wide diversity of the interventions included. Conclusion: Positive psychological interventions have potentially positive effects on improving quality of life, enhancing positive psychological outcomes and alleviating negative psychological outcomes in patients with cancer. However, due to the heterogeneity and the lack of follow‐up studies, more high‐quality studies are needed to confirm the results of our review and to clarify the long‐term effects of positive psychological interventions. Relevance to clinical practice: As feasible psychological interventions, healthcare professionals can consider applying appropriate positive psychological interventions according to the condition of cancer patients. Patient or public contribution: No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy that occurs in women. Due to the pain caused by the disease itself and the adverse reactions in the treatment process, breast cancer patients are prone to anxiety, depression, fear of recurrence, and other negative emotions, which seriously affect the quality of life. As a systematic stress reduction therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction is widely applied to the treatment of breast cancer patients and has been found by a growing number of studies to relieve stress, regulate mood, and improve the state. However, due to the absence of recent research and uniform outcome measures, previous studies have failed to fully explain the role of mindfulness-based stress reduction in improving the quality of life in breast cancer patients. Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate and compare the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy and standard care on the quality of life and psychological status of breast cancer patients. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China's National Knowledge Infrastructure and the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials up to July 2023 to identify candidate randomized clinical trials addressing the values of mindfulness-based stress reduction in breast cancer patients. Results: A total of 1644 patients participated in 11 randomized controlled trials. The results of the meta-analysis showed that mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy can significantly reduce negative emotions such as perceived stress (MD = -1.46, 95%CI = -2.53 to -0.38, p = 0.03), depression (MD = -1.84, 95%CI = -3.99 to -0.30, p = 0.0004), anxiety (MD = -2.81, 95%CI = -5.31 to -0.32, p = 0.002), and fear of recurrence (MD = -1.27, 95%CI = -3.44 to 0.90, p = 0.0004). Mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy also has certain advantages in improving the coping ability (MD = 1.26, 95%CI = -3.23 to5.76, p = 0.03) and the emotional state (MD = -7.73, 95%CI = -27.34 to 11.88, p = 0.0007) of patients with breast cancer. Conclusion: Our analyses support that, compared with standard care, mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy can significantly improve patients' coping ability, reduce adverse emotions and improve patients' emotional states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationships between positive/negative spirituality and meaning in life at two religious sites in Japan. Participants reported greater sadness and less meaning in life at Koyasan Okunoin, a temple with graves surrounded by nature, than at Nachi Kumano Taisha, a shrine with a waterfall. However, greater feelings of happiness protected meaning in life in the presence of sadness at Koyasan. Additionally, participants who felt a sense of awe reported greater meaning in life through self-liberation, regardless of the sites. The results provide new insights into meaning in life from the two sides of spirituality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polskie Forum Psychologiczne is the property of Kazimierza Wielki University in Bydgoszcz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between demographic variables, personal factors, impairment-related variables, and functioning levels of cancer survivors in Turkey. Data for this study were collected from a major oncology institute and a nonprofit cancer organization in Turkey. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to investigate the sequential effect of demographic variables (i.e., age, gender, income, and education), personal factors (i.e., core self-evaluations, purpose in life, and religiosity), and impairment-related variables (i.e., pain, fatigue, perceived stress, and sleep disturbance) on the functioning level of Turkish cancer survivors (i.e., physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, cognitive functioning, and social functioning). The results indicated that impairment-related variables explained a significant amount of variance in functioning scores above and beyond demographic and personal factors. Pain intensity and perceived stress were most prominent factors impacting functioning levels of Turkish cancer survivors. Pain and stress self-management training, psychotherapy and counseling, physical activity and exercise, and cognitive remediation training are recommended interventions to increase the functioning level and well-being of cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grateful caregivers report lower levels of psychological distress. Social support, engendered by gratitude and buffering against stress, might mediate this effect. Here we explored whether the protective psychological effect of dispositional gratitude might be mediated by increased social support. A sample of 126 caregivers of autistic children completed questionnaires assessing dispositional gratitude, social support and psychological distress. Gratitude inversely predicted psychological distress, as did social support after adjusting for gratitude. Gratitude positively predicted social support. Gratitude no longer predicted psychological distress after adjusting for social support. Indirect effects analysis revealed the gratitude-distress relationship occurred indirectly via social support. Grateful caregivers reported higher levels of social support, and this predicted lower psychological distress. Gratitude, relatively stable as a disposition, has a state component that is sensitive to change, and healthcare professionals might do well to recommend gratitude enhancing interventions for caregivers of autistic children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women worldwide and depression and anxiety are disturbing side effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of physical activity in global health, quality of life (QoL), and psychological factors (depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and anxiety) in breast cancer survivors after completing cancer treatment and through survivorship. Demographic variables (marital status, education, income), medical status (cancer stage), and level of physical activity (metabolic equivalent of task [MET]) were tested as predictors of depressive mood, anxiety, self-esteem, and QoL in younger and older breast cancer survivors.Materials and methods: One hundred and seventy-one Greek breast cancer survivors, who had completed cancer treatment at least one and a half years ago, were included in this study. Demographic and medical information, self-reported and objective physical activity levels, global health, QoL, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and anxiety were assessed in all participants.Results: Active women had lower depressive symptoms, less anxiety, higher self-esteem, and better global health and QoL, compared to the inactive ones, even in the long term after completing treatment through survivorship. Exercise had significant positive correlations with self-esteem, global health, and QoL (physical, role, emotional, cognitive, and social aspects). Moreover, significant negative correlations with anxiety and depressive symptoms were found. Multiple regression analysis revealed that MET and covariates such as income, education, and stage of cancer were significant predictors of depressive symptoms, self-esteem, anxiety, global health, and QoL in younger survivors, while MET, income, education, stage of cancer, and marital status were significant predictors of dependent variables for the older ones.Conclusion: It can be concluded that exercise should be recommended to cancer survivors even after treatment completion and through survivorship to achieve higher self-esteem, better QoL, and decreased anxiety and depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decreased sexual pleasure is a common problem in women with breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of psychoeducation vs. acceptance and commitment therapy to improve sexual pleasure according to the predictive role of physical, cognitive and emotional factors. Results of 139 Hispanic women (Mexico and Spain) diagnosed with breast cancer reveal that only the emotional factor of depression predicts decreased sexual pleasure. Although women who participated in the psychoeducation program presented greater physical symptomatology, body image distortions and emotional distress, the results seem to indicate that psychoeducational guidelines are relevant to improve sexual pleasure in those women who manifest higher levels of previous depression. Future research is required to clarify these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Meditative practices have grown in popularity, but the results of meditative intervention studies on immune functioning have been inconsistent. Although prior reviews have been conducted, the present meta-analysis provides a more comprehensive and updated examination. Methods: One hundred and five eligible studies, including mindfulness-based, movement-based, and meditation-focused, meditative interventions with biological markers of immune functioning were analyzed. The current work (a) incorporates a greater number of studies available for review, (b) examines the overall magnitude of the effect of meditative interventions on immune functioning, (c) examines the effects of health on some individual level biomarkers (i.e., NF-κB, IgA, and IL-6), (d) compares different types of meditative interventions and (e) reveals the effect of various theoretical (e.g., the health of participants) and methodological (e.g., delivery of interventions) moderators. Results: The meta-analysis indicated that meditative interventions, including formal meditation, mindfulness-based, and movement-based, have a small but significant effect on immune functioning (g = 0.181, k = 105, p < 0.001) as compared to controls (g = -0.001, p = 0.982). Furthermore, the results indicated that the effect of meditative interventions on immune functioning remained robust, regardless of the type of control condition. Conclusions: The present meta-analysis suggests a small and significant effect of meditative interventions on immune functioning and serves to clarify inconsistent results in the literature. Further, it provides insight into both theoretical and methodological moderators for future research. Meditative interventions could be implemented in various formats and modalities, especially among those with physiological and psychological disorders. Preregistration: The present meta-analysis was not preregistered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People can experience posttraumatic growth (PTG) when faced with potentially traumatic events. One of the most widely-used instruments to measure PTG is the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-Short Form (PTGI-SF). However, it has not been validated for the Spanish population. This study explored the psychometric properties of the PTGI-SF in adults living in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since it is a global disaster, two items were added to assess communal PTG. The participants were adult inhabitants of Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 855). They completed the PTGI-SF in July 2020, along with the Impact of Event Scale – Revised to measure symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They also rated the degree to which they perceived the COVID-19 crisis as being severe. In November 2020, 592 participants once again completed the PTGI-SF. The factorial validity o was tested by Structural Equations Modeling (SEM). McDonald's ω coefficients were calculated to test internal consistency. The Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was obtained to assess test–retest reliability. Sensitivity and criterion-related validity were assessed by exploring the association of the PTGI-SF scores with gender, age, PTSD symptoms, and perceived severity. Results indicated good psychometric properties for an eight-item, four-factor structure of the inventory in terms of structural validity, reliability, sensitivity and criterion-related validity. These factors were: Relating to Others, Personal Strength, Spiritual Change, and Life Value and Opportunities. Communal PTG overlapped with social PTG, and therefore it was not included. Cultural differences need to be addressed when measuring PTG, especially in terms of spiritual growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric cancer survivors (PCS) experience functional difficulties and brain alterations. However, little is known about cerebral perfusion and its relationship to functional outcome (cognitive and motor performance) in PCS. We examined cerebral blood flow (CBF) in non-brain tumor PCS and the associations between CBF and age, as well as functional outcome. Forty PCS and 40 age-comparable controls were included. CBF did not differ between PCS and controls. CBF decreased with age only in controls. In PCS, CBF was associated with functional outcome. Our data indicate an altered relationship between age and CBF in survivors, with stronger brain-behavior mechanisms after cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scoping review describes the research-based mindfulness intervention on anxiety, distress, and depression. The search strategy retrieved articles published in English from 2014 to 2019 and were retrieved across Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. The PRISMA-Scr checklist is a tool to evaluate the quality of the articles. The selection criteria initially included all original articles in English, with 1,527 that were related to mindfulness intervention for anxiety, distress, and depression. A total of 490 full texts were retrieved, and after the abstracts were reviewed, 124 full-text articles were included for eligibility, and the final eight studies were determined. The articles were reviewed and screened for relevance to mindfulness intervention in reducing anxiety, distress, and depression among those with chronic diseases. The results have shown that mindfulness intervention reduces anxiety, distress, and depression among patients with chronic diseases. The review contributes further insight into the fact that mindfulness intervention is also appropriate for other conditions to facilitate reducing psychological symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an 8-week Mindfulness-Based cognitive therapy (MBCT) group program to treat Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (SIAD) in women following breast cancer (BrCa) treatment. Thirty women participated, of whom 67% (n = 20) attended at least 6 of 8 group sessions. Feedback indicated the program was relevant and valuable; minor modifications were suggested to further address survivorship concerns. Results of pre-post questionnaires demonstrated significant improvements in sexual distress and sexual interest/desire, with large effect sizes. Results support the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an 8-week MBCT program among women following breast cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue is a frequently occurring and persistent symptom after stroke. Many biological, psychosocial, and behavioural factors are associated with poststroke fatigue, but research into associations with personality traits is relatively sparse. In this study, we explored whether personality traits were related to poststroke fatigue measured with conventional fatigue questionnaires as well as experience sampling methodology (ESM). Twenty-four individuals with stroke completed 10 daily questionnaires about momentary (here-and-now) fatigue for six consecutive days using the mHealth ESM application PsyMateTM. Further, they completed questionnaires assessing personality (NEO-FFI and LOR-T) and fatigue (FSS). Results showed that higher extraversion (ß = -.44, SE =.12, p =.001; 95% CI = -.67-.19) and optimism (ß = -.18, SE =.06, p =.007; 95% CI = -.30-.05) were associated with lower momentary fatigue. No association was found between neuroticism and momentary fatigue, but higher neuroticism (r = 0.531, p =.008, 95% CI =.160-.759; r =.574, p =.003, 95% CI =.245-.767) was associated with higher scores on the retrospective FSS scales. We conclude that personality traits differentially influence poststroke fatigue, but this also depends on the way fatigue is measured (with retrospective or with momentary measures). When functional gains are not in line with expected progress during the rehabilitation treatment of fatigue, it may be appropriate to take into account how person characteristics are related to momentary fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an increasing incidence and a high cure rate, a growing number of testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) survivors require specialized follow-up care. However, knowledge of these patients' needs is lacking, leaving TGCT survivors with unmet care needs at risk of symptom burden when transitioning to long-term survivorship. This grounded theory study aimed to understand the perspectives of TGCT survivors' transition from follow-up care to long-term survivorship. A total of 12 adult TGCT survivors in follow-up care or completion less than a year were in-depth semi-structured interviewed. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed by constant comparison, and the core category "Dealing with back-and-forth forces" emerged in the integrated concepts. Two comparative processes in dealing with those forces were identified: the process of Living beyond the sword of Damocles involved the transition from feeling threatened by cancer to overcoming those threats; the process of Getting on with one's life can be described as transitioning from a period where cancer overruled their lives to carrying on with everyday life. The processes toward long-term survivorship follow general characteristics; the transition itself is an individual journey that depends on (life) experiences. The constructed model can guide healthcare professionals and researchers involved in TGCT survivorship to understand TGCT survivors' individual and ensuing needs. When TGCT survivors receive individualized and tailored follow-up care, it can assist in preventing and reducing long-term and late effects on long-term survivorship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the spiritual pain concept in the Iranian-Islamic context using a hybrid research model during 2020–2021. During the first phase, international and Iranian-Islamic literature was systematically searched and reviewed. During the second phase, the researchers referred to oncology wards, palliative care centers, and intensive care units and conducted unstructured interviews with 19 dying patients. In the third phase, attributes, and final analysis of spiritual pain was extracted from the first phase, and following the second phase, the definition of spiritual pain was finalized. The results showed that spiritual pain is a type of unique transcendental pain in the context of a continuum, rooted in human nature. At the one end of the continuum, there is the pain of deprivation from worldly pleasures (oneself, the family, and others). At the other end, there is the pain of breaking away from and striving to return to one's origin (God). Exploring spiritual pain in the Iranian-Islamic context can help develop tools and clinical guidelines and plan for the presence of specialists at the bedside to relieve this pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benefit finding has been identified as a buffer of the combat exposure-PTSD symptom link in soldiers. However, benefit finding may have a limited buffering capacity on the combat-PTSD symptom link over the course of a soldier's post-deployment recovery period. In the present study, soldiers returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) were surveyed at two different time periods post-deployment: Time 1 was 4 months post-deployment (n = 1,510), and Time 2 was at 9 months post-deployment (n = 783). The surveys assessed benefit finding, PTSD symptoms, and combat exposure. Benefit finding was a successful buffer of the cross-sectional relationship between combat exposure and PTSD reexperiencing symptoms at Time 1, but not at Time 2. In addition, the benefit finding by combat interaction at time 1 revealed that greater benefit finding was associated with higher symptoms under high combat exposure at Time 2 after controlling for PTSD arousal symptoms at Time 1. The results of the present study indicate that benefit finding may have a buffering capacity in the immediate months following a combat deployment, but also indicates that more time than is allotted during the post-deployment adjustment period is needed to enable recovery from PTSD. Theoretical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccine hesitancy—delays in vaccine uptake when one is readily available—is an important public health issue. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of psychosocial factors in influencing cognitions and behaviors related to vaccine uptake have been examined. Using an online sample of unvaccinated U.S. adults (N = 300), we examined the influence of COVID-19-related social media-based comparison information (e.g., others' attitudes about taking the vaccine)—as well as the moderating impact of (dis)similarity mindsets and indirect influence of affective associations, norm perceptions, and self-evaluations of efficacy—on vaccination uptake intentions. Participants reported higher intentions for vaccine uptake following exposure to cautious comparison models (e.g., those that engaged in health prevention behaviors, intended to get vaccinated) versus risky comparison models (e.g., those who did not engage in health prevention behaviors, did not intend to get vaccinated) and neutral comparison models and this effect was indirect through positive affective associations about taking the vaccine. There were no main or interactive effects of (dis)similarity mindsets. Understanding the psychosocial factors that influence health cognitions and behaviors in the context of an infectious disease pandemic will advance theoretical development and aid in creating interventions targeting vaccine uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing popularity of mindfulness practices has seen an accompanying growth in research that includes the development of several self‐report mindfulness measures. However, while caution has been recommended in the use of these self‐reports, there has been little direct assessment of their susceptibility to expectancy effects. This research aimed at understanding whether expectancy effects exist for self‐reported mindfulness measures (Study 1; n = 60), and how expectancy effects might manifest in relation to positive and negative expectancy (Study 2; n = 60). The first study manipulated whether (i) the task (jigsaws) was labelled as "mindfulness," and (ii) whether "authentic" mindfulness instructions were given. Given any increases in self‐reported mindfulness might potentially occur due to engaging in the mindful and attentionally demanding task, the second study manipulated whether the introduction placed mindfulness in a positive or negative context. A pre‐/post‐test design was employed using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and Applied Mindfulness Process Scale self‐report measures for mindfulness and the Perceived Stress Scale for well‐being. The findings revealed expectancy effects for simply using the term mindfulness and that the direction of effects could be manipulated. This research suggests that researchers need to be cautious in evaluating self‐reports of mindfulness practice due to expectancy effects, especially in the context of brief interventions without objective measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies of individuals with non‐cancer‐related chronic pain find that higher levels of psychological flexibility (PF) are associated with less distress, better functioning, and a better response to treatment. People diagnosed with cancer are at a significantly increased risk of developing chronic cancer‐related pain, the presence of which is associated with poorer health outcomes. Little is known about whether PF is applicable to cancer pain. The current study investigates the relationship between chronic cancer‐related pain, distress and functioning, and three theoretical processes proposed by the PF model: pain acceptance, present‐moment focus, and committed action. Methods: Adults (n = 246) with a cancer diagnosis (current or previous), and living in Sweden, completed an online survey involving standardized measures of cancer‐related pain (intensity and impairment), depression, fatigue, PF and social stigma. Results: Moderate to strong correlations were found between PF and all variables. In regression analyses, PF, and particularly pain acceptance, accounted for a large and significant proportion of the observed variance in depression, pain‐related and overall functioning, after controlling for cancer status, pain intensity and social stigma. Conclusion: Consistent with studies of non‐cancer‐related pain, higher levels of PF were strongly associated with lower levels of distress and better functioning in individuals with cancer‐related pain. Further studies are needed to further explore these relationships and to determine whether psychosocial treatments targeting PF may be of benefit to people with chronic cancer‐related pain. Significance: This study explores the relationship between cancer‐related pain (intensity and impairment), depression, fatigue, overall functioning, social stigma and PF. The findings suggest that higher levels of PF are associated with lower levels of distress and improved functioning in chronic cancer‐related pain, after controlling for cancer status (current, in remission), pain intensity and social stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) in mothers of premature infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Iran. Sixty mothers were selected by convenience sampling and assigned to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received two MBSR sessions each week over the course of three weeks. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) was used to collect data before, immediately after, and 1 month after the intervention. Based on repeated measures ANOVA, group-by-time interaction effect was significant and there was a statistically significant difference in the mean PTG scores of mothers in the two groups over time (p = 0.004). MBSR increased PTG in mothers. As a result, it is suggested that this approach be used in psychological support programs for mothers who have premature infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: This study examined the reliability and validity of a Shame and Stigma Scale (SSS) and assessed shame and stigma among patients with facial disfigurement from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods: Data were collected from 218 patients with NPC through a cross-sectional survey between January 14, 2020, and December 1, 2020. The original SSS is a 20-item scale with four dimensions (i.e., shame with appearance, sense of stigma, regret, and social/speech concern). We used Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega to assess reliability and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to assess the factor structure. We also used Pearson correlation analysis to examine the relationship between each item and total score of scale items and convergent validity. Results: The final 18-item SSS had a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of.89. The EFA revealed that the SSS has a four-factor structure: sense of stigma, social/speech concern, shame with appearance, and regret. These factors showed satisfactory reliability, with McDonald's omega coefficients of.87,.77,.86, and.79, respectively. The scale showed significant relationship between each item and total score of scale items with respect to item–total correlations, item–subscale correlations, and item–other-subscale correlations. Convergent validity was supported by the significant positively correlated with the total scores for depression and anxiety. Conclusion: The SSS is valid and reliable in assessing shame and stigma and monitoring treatment compliance among patients with NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Psychotraumatology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The COVID-19 outbreak has undoubtedly affected overall mental health. Thus, researching resilience is important, as it has been previously discussed as a means to protect people from mental health problems. This study aims to clarify whether survivors of a traumatic event (i.e. cancer survivors) are more resilient to living through another traumatic experience, such as COVID-19, compared to those who have never had such an experience. The study also examines the role of emotional creativity in this process. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research design was adopted. The data collection was performed through a survey (N = 338), which was conducted among two separate groups of participants. The first group (N = 152) included the survivors of a traumatic event (i.e. cancer survivors), and the second group (N = 186) included those who did not have such an experience. Findings: The results demonstrate that living through a traumatic experience results in a higher level of resilience during another traumatic experience (i.e. COVID-19), which is the result of higher post-traumatic growth. Moreover, emotional creativity is discussed as an explanatory variable that explains a significantly higher level of post-traumatic growth among survivors of a traumatic event. Originality/value: This research offers a better understanding of the effect of living through a traumatic event on post-traumatic growth and resilience in living through another traumatic experience. Moreover, post-traumatic growth is explained through emotional creativity improvement, which happens after experiencing a traumatic life event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To validate a European French translation of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Methods: This study examined the factorial and the convergent validity of the French version of the PTGI (PTGI-F). A first sample of 406 firefighters was used to test the psychometric structure of the PTGI. A second sample of 210 first responders was then used to test its convergent validity. Participants completed measures of growth, traumatic events, PTSD, anxiety and depression, and personality. Results: The PTGI-F was unrelated to Anxiety, supporting the convergent validity of the PTGI-F. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between the PTGI-F and the PCL-C. Finally, the PTGI-F had the same five-factor structure as the PTGI. Discussion: The PTGI-F appears to be a valid tool. However, the contradictions that were put froward by other translated versions suggest that the PTGI should be reconsidered and improved to better assess the growth process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This research examines the direct and indirect relationships between optimism, perceived social support (PSS), benefit finding (BF), and anxiety and depressive symptoms among Chinese women with breast cancer (BC). Methods: We recruited 512 patients, aged averagely 47.46(SD = 8.51) years from two hospitals located in Hunan province, China. The variables were assessed using the Optimism–Pessimism Scale (OPS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Benefit Finding Scale (BFS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Path analyses were conducted by Amos version 24.0 for Windows to test the hypothesized serial mediation model. Results: Path analyses suggest a significant negative association between optimism and symptoms of anxiety and depression. The relationship was mediated by BF (β = -0.085, SE = 0.015, 95% CI [-0.126, -0.055]), and by BF together with PSS (β = -0.027, SE = 0.007, 95% CI [-0.047, -0.017]). The difference comparison between the two indirect effects was significant (β = 0.057, SE = 0.015, 95% CI [0.034,0.101]). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that PSS, and BF are important mediators through which optimism may buffer symptoms of anxiety and depression among Chinese BC patients. Clinicians and healthcare practitioners should be aware of the importance of patients' emotional health and endeavor to offer emotional support, facilitate their capacity to improve their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Evidence on the benefits of physical activity (PA) during cancer has caused a paradigm shift from people with cancer being advised to save energy (rest paradigm) to guidelines recommending them to engage in regular PA (activity paradigm). This study examined the rest and the activity paradigm among people with cancer based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Methods: A cross‐sectional survey was completed by N = 1244 people (58% women; M = 59.95 years) with breast, prostate and colorectal cancer, including 15 items on rest and activity attitudes. To explain the intention to engage in PA, hierarchical regression analyses were calculated. Results: The two‐dimensional structure of attitudes (rest and activity) was confirmed. The agreement with the activity paradigm (M = 4.11; SD = 0.78) was higher compared to the rest paradigm (M = 2.56; SD = 0.78, p <.001). The TPB was an appropriate model to explain the intention to engage in PA (R2 =.59), showing that the activity paradigm, but not the rest paradigm, was significantly associated with participants' intention for PA. Conclusion: Results indicate that the paradigm shift has successfully reached attitudes of people with cancer. Interventions focusing on the benefits of PA rather than addressing rest cognitions promise higher effectiveness in affecting PA levels. Clinical trial registration number: NCT02678832. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the factors associated with the degree of distress experienced by patients with cancer before disclosing their cancer diagnosis to a friend and their perceptions of social support upon disclosure. Methods: Adult patients with cancer participated in a cross‐sectional Internet‐based survey on their behaviour when disclosing their diagnosis to a selected friend, degree of distress before this disclosure and perceived social support upon disclosure. Results: Of 473 eligible respondents, around half were middle‐aged (40–59 years) and around half were men. Having a younger age (20–39 years), being a woman and delaying disclosure were factors associated with greater pre‐disclosure distress. Most participants perceived receiving emotional support upon disclosure. Telling a close friend or a female friend and early disclosure timing were associated with perceived social support, although this varied by social support type. Conclusion: Younger patients and women may need more support in deciding to disclose their cancer diagnosis to friends. Selection of to whom to disclose this information and disclosure timing should be considered to achieve more desirable outcomes. In addition to selective disclosure—including planning and scheduling—communication skills may be required for effectively disclosing a cancer diagnosis and achieving favourable results following this disclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]