Well-being and posttraumatic growth in unrelated donor marrow transplant survivors: a nine-year longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
To study posttraumatic growth and psychological and physical well-being among 25 cancer survivors (12 men, 13 women) 9 years after receiving a hematopoietic stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor.


METHODS
Participants completed measures of well-being (e.g., depression, physical function) and posttraumatic growth at the 9-year follow-up. Prior to treatment, optimism, social support, and well-being had been assessed.


RESULTS
Findings reveal high levels of physical and psychological well-being. Survivors reported posttraumatic growth in several domains, including increased personal strengths and enhanced interpersonal relationships. Higher levels of growth were significantly related to gender and age: Women reported more total posttraumatic growth, and older survivors reported more enhanced spirituality, one domain of growth. Posttraumatic growth and well-being after treatment were predicted by 2 psychosocial variables assessed prior to treatment: dispositional optimism and social support.


CONCLUSIONS
Although long-term survivors report ongoing physical limitations, they also experience well-being in both physical and psychological domains. Posttraumatic growth is an area of well-being deserving of additional research and clinical attention. In particular, there may be reason to assist survivors to articulate growth as part of ongoing care.
Tallman
Benjamin
B
Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Shaw
Kari
K
Schultz
Jessica
J
Altmaier
Elizabeth
E
D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*