Cognitive response and posttraumatic growth during the first year after the cancer diagnosis

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to describe the relation between posttraumatic growth and cognitive response during the first year after the cancer diagnosis. Methods: A sample of cancer outpatients (N= 131), completed the Spanish version of Mental adjustment to Cancer (MAC) and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). In this study we assessed these values during 4 times: first time during the 3 month period after the cancer diagnosis; the second time between 3 to 6 moths period after the diagnosis; the third time between 6 to 12 moths period; and fi nally the last time 12 moths after the diagnosis. Lineal regression analysis was calculated at different times after the diagnosis. The predictor variable was coping styles and the scores at posttraumatic growth were dependent variable. Results: In the sample the median age was 48 years, from which around 43% were males. In the first 3 moths period after the diagnosis, we obtained negative scores in Anxiety (= -3.43; T= -2.88; p< 0.01) and positive values in Acceptance Illness (= 3.76; T= 2.69; p< 0.05). These results predicted a significantly later posttraumatic growth. The cognitive response of Hopeless have a tendency towards to be associated with posttraumatic growth but the prediction is not significant (= 1.69; T= 1.89; p= 0.07). In the period between 6 to 12 moths after the diagnosis, higher scores in Resignation were related with later posttraumatic growth (= 1.75; T= 2.04; p=0.05). There were no additional significant results, nor for the 3 to 6 moths period, neither for the 12 moths period after the diagnosis. Conclusions: At different time since cancer diagnosis the later posttraumatic growth was predicted by different cognitive response.