title: Associations between exercise and posttraumatic growth in gynecologic cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Exercise improves numerous psychosocial outcomes in cancer survivors; however, few studies have examined posttraumatic growth. The primary objective of this study was to examine the association between exercise and posttraumatic growth in gynecologic cancer survivors (GCS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the Alberta Cancer Registry, a random sample of endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancer survivors were mailed a self-report survey that assessed demographic and medical variables, aerobic and strength exercise, and posttraumatic growth using the posttraumatic growth inventory, impact of cancer scale, and benefit finding scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Completed surveys were received from 621 (38 %) of the 1,626 eligible survivors. One-third (32.9 %) of GCS were meeting aerobic exercise guidelines and 19.0 % were meeting strength exercise guidelines. Multivariate analyses of covariance showed significant differences in the posttraumatic growth scales for aerobic exercise guidelines (p < 0.001) and combined (strength and aerobic) exercise guidelines (p < 0.001). Analyses of covariance indicated significant differences favoring those meeting the aerobic exercise guidelines for the negative impact of cancer scale (p < 0.001) and several of its subscales. Moreover, those meeting the combined exercise guidelines reported higher scores for the posttraumatic growth inventory (p = 0.014), the negative impact of cancer scale (p < 0.001), and several of their subscales compared to those meeting only one or neither guideline. Marital status moderated the association between exercise and posttraumatic growth with only unmarried GCS demonstrating the associations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise is a modifiable lifestyle factor that is associated with posttraumatic growth in GCS. Randomized controlled trials testing the effects of exercise interventions on posttraumatic growth in this population are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, E-488 Van Vliet Center, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2H9.
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Jeff K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Vallance
authors.forename: Nicholas L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Kerry S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Courneya
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011788:Quality of Life; D011897:Random Allocation; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*