The effectiveness of a group intervention to facilitate posttraumatic growth among women with breast cancer

Abstract

Objective: This longitudinal study tested the effectiveness of a group intervention designed to facilitate posttraumatic growth (PTG).

Methods: Sample consisted of 205 women diagnosed with non-metastatic breast cancer who were either assigned to an intervention group (n = 58) or to a control group (n = 147). PTG, challenge to core beliefs, and rumination (intrusive and deliberate) were assessed at baseline (T1), at 6 months (T2), and at 12 months after baseline (T3).

Results: Results from the Latent Growth Modeling suggested that participants from the intervention group have higher levels of PTG. The challenge to core beliefs and the intrusive rumination have a moderator role on PTG, since group intervention is also linked to the enhancement of both variables.

Conclusions: Participation in the intervention group increase PTG. Challenge to core beliefs and intrusive rumination are improved by group intervention, which to a certain extent facilitate PTG.

Keywords: breast cancer; cancer; challenge to core beliefs; group intervention; oncology; posttraumatic growth; rumination.