Post-traumatic Growth in the Italian Experience of Long-term Disease-free Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Cancer survivors often report post-traumatic growth. Since culture influences the development of post-traumatic growth, the aims of this study were to measure the prevalence of post-traumatic growth in Italian long-term disease-free and treatment-free cancer survivors (≥5 years) and explore the relationship between post-traumatic growth and sociodemographic and clinical variables. Three hundred sixty long-term disease-free and treatment-free cancer survivors were assessed with Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Brief COPE and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Mean age was 58.6 years, and mean survival was 11 years (range 5-32). The PTGI average total score was higher in younger survivors, in those without comorbidities, in survivors engaged in physical activity. Positive correlation between PTGI and Brief COPE and between PTGI and MSPSS were found. The variables more associated with post-traumatic growth were age, comorbidity, physical activity and two coping subscales. The prevalence of post-traumatic growth in this sample of cancer survivors was lower than previous studies. We discussed some possible explanations, including the consideration that cultural differences may affect the development of post-traumatic growth in cancer survivors. Having less comorbidities, receiving social support from friends, having the ability to adaptively cope and engaging in physical activity were found to be strongly associated with post-traumatic growth.

Keywords: cancer/oncology; coping; cross‐cultural issues; social support; trauma.