Original scientific paper

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Matija Svetina orcid.org/0000-0001-9337-3655 ; Department of Psychology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Katja Nastran ; Department of Psychology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

Background: Post-traumatic growth (PTG) refers to the process of attributing meaning to traumatic events and positive changes
in life after facing trauma. A number of studies have already demonstrated that demographic- and coping-approaches related
variables predict PTG, yet little is known about whether PTG may be predicted by family processes such as flexibility, cohesion,
communication and satisfaction. The main purpose of the study therefore was to determine whether family-related factors predict
PTG above and beyond demographic variables and coping related processes.
Subjects and methods: The study included 190 women, breast-cancer patients, aged 31 to 83 years. Their educational level was
representative of the educational level in the population of this age range. The Participants were members of the Oncology Patients
Society. Post traumatic growth index, FACES-IV - family relationships scale, coping response inventory, demographic, and illnessrelated
questionnaires were administered after informed consent was obtained. The PTG index was used as an outcome measure.
Results: Congruent with previous findings, analyses yielded weak correlations between demographic- and illness-related
variables, and PTG. Also congruent with previous findings, approach related coping strategies were found to predict PTG, R
squared =0.16, p<0.001. In addition to previous findings, family related factors predicted unique proportion of variance on PTG,
p<0.05, with communication having positive and satisfaction negative load on PTG.
Conclusions: Results showed that family related factors predicted PTG above and beyond coping-related strategies and
demographics. Communication, however, seems to mediate the association between satisfaction and PTG. Theoretical concerns and
practical implications are discussed.

Keywords

post traumatic growth; family relationships; breast cancer

Hrčak ID:

106239

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/106239

Publication date:

24.9.2012.

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