Finding benefit in breast cancer during the year after diagnosis predicts better adjustment 5 to 8 years after diagnosis.
Cancer patients experience positive as well as adverse consequences from diagnosis and treatment. The study reported here examined longer term reverberations of such experiences. A set of benefit-finding items along with measures of well-being were completed by 230 early-stage breast cancer patients in the year postsurgery. Four to 7 years later, 96 of them again completed measures of well-being. Controlling for initial distress and depression, initial benefit finding in this sample predicted lower distress and depression at follow-up.
Carver
Charles S
CS
University of Miami, Department of Psychology, Coral Gables, FL 33124-0751, USA. ccarver@miami.edu.
Antoni
Michael H
MH
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology