title: Quality of life in cancer rehabilitation: the role of life goal adjustment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A cancer diagnosis affects patients' quality of life (QOL) as well as their pursuit of life goals. However, numerous studies have shown surprisingly stable QOL measures in cancer patients over time. We propose that life goal adjustment can act as the missing link in explaining this response shift. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine associations between life goal adjustment and patients' QOL at baseline and over the course of 20 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six cancer patients were recruited during rehabilitation and reassessed at follow-up 20 months later. Life goals were measured using the Life Goals Questionnaire and analyzed in relation to global QOL as assessed with the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire - Short Form.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall attainment of life goals was associated with QOL. Moreover, over a period of 20 months, perceived QOL and goal attainment remained stable, whereas importance of life goals decreased. Lesser importance and improved goal attainment were predictors of increases in QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that downgrading unattainable goals and making more progress in accomplishing attainable goals may be possible mechanisms of response shift as an adaption to illness. Thus, integrating life goal adjustment into rehabilitation services for cancer patients seems to be worthwhile to enhance an adaptive self-regulation and QOL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: von Blanckenburg
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Seifart
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Conrad
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Exner
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rief
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nestoriuc
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: cancer; life goals; oncology; quality of life; rehabilitation; self-regulation