title: Benefit finding after cancer: the role of optimism, intrusive thinking and social environment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Benefit finding after cancer is common. The mechanism for this may include cognitive processing of the cancer trauma within a supportive social context.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey of 439 cancer patients assessing optimism, intrusion, avoidance, social support and constraints, anxiety, depression, QOL, benefit finding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Benefit finding was predicted by female gender, greater optimism, high intrusive thinking, high social support and constraints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of social constraints in the generation of benefit finding is unclear. Future research should assess how the specific nature of intrusive thoughts may influence benefit finding over time and how social environment interacts with this.
authors.affiliation: Griffith University, Cancer Council Queensland and University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Occhipinti
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Suzanne K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chambers
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012931:Social Environment; D012934:Social Isolation; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013850:Thinking