title: The role of meaning in the prediction of psychosocial well-being of testicular cancer survivors.
abstract: Stressful life events, such as cancer, may threaten the belief that life is meaningful and this may have a negative effect on well-being. This study aimed at: (1) examining meaning in testicular cancer survivors (TCSs); (2) changes in outlook on life after testicular cancer (TC); (3) the contribution of meaning in the prediction of psychosocial well-being and cancer-related distress. A total of 354 TCSs completed relevant questionnaires. Results showed that: (1) TCSs experience their lives as meaningful; (2) most TCSs (60%) report a more positive outlook on life since TC; (3) meaning is the most important predictor for psychosocial well-being, but its relationship with cancer-related distress is weak. These results indicate that the cancer experience did not (permanently) disrupt the sense of meaning in TCSs. Furthermore, results confirm the idea that a sense of meaning has a positive effect on psychosocial well-being. Meaning appeared to have little effect on cancer-related distress. However, previous research has shown that this relationship may be too complex to unravel with a cross-sectional design. Therefore, it is suggested to further investigate the underlying interacting mechanisms between meaning and cancer-related distress.
authors: Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Fleer
authors: H J
authors: HJ
authors: Hoekstra
authors: D Th
authors: DT
authors: Sleijfer
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Tuinman
authors: J E H M
authors: JE
authors: Hoekstra-Weebers