Perceptions of positive meaning and vulnerability following breast cancer: Predictors and outcomes among long-term breast cancer survivors
Perceptions of positive meaning and vulnerability following breast cancer: Predictors and outcomes among long-term breast cancer survivors
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DOI：
10.1207/s15324796abm2903_10
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发表时间：
2005-06-01
影响因子：
3.8
通讯作者：
Ganz, PA
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Bower, JE;Meyerowitz, BE;Ganz, PA
背景：近年来，早期乳腺癌患者的存活率显著增加。然而，人们对癌症经历对女性心理功能的长期影响知之甚少。理论和描述性的描述表明，癌症可能会唤起人们对脆弱和积极意义的看法，对心理健康可能会产生不同的影响。目的：本研究旨在评估乳腺癌存活者中这些认知的盛行率和稳定性，找出它们的前因性，并确定它们对长期适应的影响。方法：对763例乳腺癌存活者在确诊后1~5年和5~10年进行纵向评估。参与者完成了评估对积极意义和脆弱性的看法的调查，以及生活心理调整和质量的标准测量。结果：大多数妇女报告在两个评估点的观点和优先事项以及脆弱感觉方面发生了积极变化。与假设一致的是，结果表明，对积极意义的感知与脆弱性呈正相关，并且两者都与增加癌症体验的破坏性的因素有关。在横断面和纵向分析中，脆弱性与消极情绪密切相关，而意义与积极情绪相关。结论：结果表明，癌症诊断可能会导致持久的脆弱感以及意义上的积极变化；然而，这些感知与心理健康相关非常不同。
Background: Survival rates for women with early-stage breast cancer have increased significantly in recent years. However, little is known about the long-term impact of the cancer experience on women's psychological functioning. Theoretical and descriptive accounts suggest that cancer may evoke both perceptions of vulnerability and positive meaning, with potentially different effects on mental health. Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence and stability of these perceptions in a large sample of breast cancer survivors, to identify their antecedents, and to determine their impact on long-term adjustment. Methods: Breast cancer survivors (N = 763) were assessed longitudinally at 1 to 5 years and 5 to 10 years postdiagnosis. Participants completed surveys assessing perceptions of positive meaning and vulnerability and standard measures of psychological adjustment of and quality of life. Results: The majority of women reported positive changes in outlook and priorities as well as feelings of vulnerability at both assessment points. Consistent with hypotheses, results showed that perceptions of positive meaning and vulnerability were positively correlated and were both associated with factors that increased the disruptiveness of the cancer experience. Vulnerability was strongly associated with negative affect, whereas meaning was associated with positive affect in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Conclusions: Results suggest that a cancer diagnosis may lead to enduring feelings of vulnerability as well as positive changes in meaning; however, these perceptions have very different mental health correlates.