title: The structure of adversarial growth in a sample of cancer patients 8 years post-diagnosis: a revision of the SLQ-38.
abstract: Stressful and traumatic events may trigger positive life changes, so-called adversarial growth. Despite growing interest in this topic, the structure and dimensionality of this concept has not been established. Recently, empirical reviews have suggested that the factors underlying this construct are highly related. Currently, the use of confirmatory factor analysis to test this hypothesis is advocated. Using data from cancer patients (n = 206), this study investigated the dimensionality of a Dutch translated version of the Silver Lining Questionnaire (SLQ-38). A 16-item SLQ (SLQ-16), with three subscales or first-order factors (enhanced personal relationships, changes in life philosophy and changes within the self) loading on a second-order general adversarial growth factor, was a good fitting model. In conclusion, the SLQ-16 may prove useful in the assessment of adversarial growth following illness.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Ulster, Derry, Ireland. mcbride-o@ulster.ac.uk
authors.forename: Orla
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: McBride
authors.forename: Maya J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schroevers
authors.forename: Adelita V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ranchor
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult