title: [Factors Influencing Posttraumatic Growth in Survivors of Breast Cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is defined as 'positive psychological change experienced as a result of a struggle with highly challenging life circumstances'. The purpose of this study was to identify the level of PTG and its correlates in Korean patients with breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 120 participants was recruited from outpatients, who had successfully completed primary treatment of breast cancer at a university hospital., Data were collected from June to December, 2014 using Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, lllness Intrusiveness Rating Scale, Cancer Coping Questionnaire, Revised Life Orientation Test and The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total score for the PTG was 79.18±17.54 in patients surviving breast cancer. Bivariate analyses indicated that PTG was positively associated with having a religion, perceived social support, greater optimism, cancer coping, and illness intrusiveness. Results of the regression analysis showed that cancer coping (β=.29, p=.001), optimism (β=0.28, p=.001) and illness intrusiveness (β=0.17, p=.037) were statistically significant in patients' PTG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The research findings show that the variables of cancer coping, optimism and illness intrusiveness significantly explain PTG and these psychological variables can be used to provide improvement in PTG for patients with breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing · The Institute of Nursing Science, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea. j-dudal@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Youngmi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055809:Illness Behavior; D008875:Middle Aged; D000067656:Optimism; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Breast neoplasm; Optimism; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Psychological adaptation; Social support