title: Trajectories of Posttraumatic Growth and Associated Characteristics in Women with Breast Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer survivors may experience posttraumatic growth (PTG), positive psychological changes resulting from highly stressful events; however, the longitudinal course of PTG is poorly understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to determine trajectories of PTG in breast cancer survivors and associated characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women (N = 653) participating in a longitudinal observational study completed questionnaires within 8 months of breast cancer diagnosis and 6, 12, and 18 months later. Group-based modeling identified PTG trajectories. Chi-square tests and ANOVA detected group differences in demographic, medical, and psychosocial variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six trajectory groups emerged. Three were stable at different levels of PTG, two increased modestly, and one increased substantially over time. Trajectory groups differed by age, race, receipt of chemotherapy, illness intrusiveness, depressive symptoms, active-adaptive coping, and social support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This first examination of PTG trajectories in US cancer survivors elucidates heterogeneity in longitudinal patterns of PTG. Future research should determine whether other samples exhibit similar trajectories and whether various PTG trajectories predict mental and physical health outcomes.
authors: Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1063, USA, danhauer@wakehealth.edu.
authors: Suzanne C
authors: SC
authors: Danhauer
authors: Greg
authors: G
authors: Russell
authors: L Douglas
authors: LD
authors: Case
authors: Stephanie J
authors: SJ
authors: Sohl
authors: Richard G
authors: RG
authors: Tedeschi
authors: Elizabeth L
authors: EL
authors: Addington
authors: Kelli
authors: K
authors: Triplett
authors: Kimberly J
authors: KJ
authors: Van Zee
authors: Elizabeth Z
authors: EZ
authors: Naftalis
authors: Beverly
authors: B
authors: Levine
authors: Nancy E
authors: NE
authors: Avis
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*