The Effects of Posttraumatic Growth and Meaning in Life on Health Promotion Behavior in Cancer Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of posttraumatic growth and meaning in life on health promotion behavior in cancer patients. METHODS: The participants were 124 cancer patients who were treated at a general hospital in Pusan. Data were collected for posttraumatic growth, meaning in life, and health promotion behavior. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS 21.0. RESULTS: The mean scores were health promotion behavior 2.72+/-0.47, posttraumatic growth 3.38+/-0.89, and meaning in life 3.29+/-0.59. The scores of health promotion behavior were significantly different by gender, perceived economic status, and economic difficulties due to diagnosis. Health promotion behavior had a significant correlation with posttraumatic growth and meaning in life. In multiple regression analysis, meaning in life and posttraumatic growth accounted for 26.0% of health promotion behavior. CONCLUSION: Posttraumatic growth and meaning in life were important factors that could be used to improve the health promotion behavior of cancer patients.