Juliane Strack1, Paulo Lopes, Manfred Gaspar. 1. ISCTE - Instituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa, Departamento de Psicologia Social e das Organizações, Catholic University of Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: People who have undergone traumatic life experiences such as cancer often report a new meaning and greater appreciation of life. These subjectively experienced positive changes are referred to as posttraumatic growth (PTG). The present study investigated correlates of PTG in cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 128 cancer patients at a rehabilitation clinic in Germany completed self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: Cognitive reappraisal of emotion, gratitude finding, and openness to experience correlated with PTG. Patients also reported different priorities in life after cancer, reflecting more present-oriented and intrinsic concerns. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that reappraising emotions and adjusting life priorities may help cancer patients to experience PTG by facilitating emotion-focused coping and reframing an apparently adverse situation as a positive experience. Copyright 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.
BACKGROUND:People who have undergone traumatic life experiences such as cancer often report a new meaning and greater appreciation of life. These subjectively experienced positive changes are referred to as posttraumatic growth (PTG). The present study investigated correlates of PTG in cancerpatients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 128 cancerpatients at a rehabilitation clinic in Germany completed self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: Cognitive reappraisal of emotion, gratitude finding, and openness to experience correlated with PTG. Patients also reported different priorities in life after cancer, reflecting more present-oriented and intrinsic concerns. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that reappraising emotions and adjusting life priorities may help cancerpatients to experience PTG by facilitating emotion-focused coping and reframing an apparently adverse situation as a positive experience. Copyright 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Authors: Arndt Büssing; Anne Gritli Wirth; Franz Reiser; Anne Zahn; Knut Humbroich; Kathrin Gerbershagen; Sebastian Schimrigk; Michael Haupts; Niels Christian Hvidt; Klaus Baumann Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2014-04-30 Impact factor: 3.186