Curvilinear associations between benefit finding and psychosocial adjustment to breast cancer.
Two previously studied cohorts of women with nonmetastatic breast cancer (Ns = 230 and 136) were reexamined. Participants were assessed during the year after surgery and 5-8 years later. Associations were examined between benefit finding (BF) and several indicators of psychosocial adjustment (e.g., perceived quality of life, positive affect, negative affect, social disruption, and intrusive thoughts). Significant curvilinear relations between BF and other outcomes were observed cross-sectionally during initial assessment and at long-term follow-up in both samples. Compared with the intermediate BF group, low and high BF groups had better psychosocial adjustment. Further analyses indicated that the high BF group reported higher optimism and more use of positive reframing and religious coping than the other BF groups. Discussion highlights the need to examine nonlinear as well as linear relationships.
Lechner
Suzanne C
SC
Biobehavioral Oncology and Cancer Control Program, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33101, USA. slechner@med.miami.edu
Carver
Charles S
CS
Antoni
Michael H
MH
Weaver
Kathryn E
KE
Phillips
Kristin M
KM
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001290:Attitude; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011584:Psychology; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*