Cancer's aftermath: posttraumatic growth as an intermediate step to perceived benefits.

BACKGROUND: The need to develop understanding of the posttraumatic growth (PTG) in the population of cancer survivors has increased in recent years. The daily functioning of cancer survivors involves factors that affect the development of PTG and the process by which it arises. OBJECTIVES: The main objective was to explore PTG process and its influencing factors in cancer survivors. METHODS: Using qualitative research design, the study applied in-depth interviews and the method of life-line drawing with seven female cancer survivors, aged between 49 and 73. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology. RESULTS: The main category in the process is persistence in consequences associated with two categories of triggers, external and internal. The various outcomes (PTG, acceptance, uncertainty) depend on perceived possibility of taking control over consequences in cancer survivors. PTG is a result of individual accommodation of illness consequences in which taking control and accommodation lead to self-regulation of pain, self-confidence, and positive self-image. CONCLUSION: Possibility of taking control over the disease consequences and active approach to acquiring new skills are central explanatory variables modifying the process of persistence in consequences of illness and the reasons of PTG. The PTG model has the potential to be adapted to other cancer-related outcomes that are relevant to the daily lives of cancer survivors.

Hope, optimism, and pessimism as predictors of positive and negative psychological changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Slovak adults.

Background and objectives: Positive and negative changes in outlook represent psychological changes that are the results of the cognitive processing of stressful and traumatic events by an individual. The objectives of the study were (1) to determine the level of occurrence and types of positive and negative changes in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic among adults in Slovakia and (2) to study the role of personality factors such as hope (dispositional and perceived) and life orientation (optimism and pessimism) in the prediction of positive and negative changes in adults during the fourth pandemic wave. Methods: A Short Form of the Changes in Outlook Questionnaire (CiOQ-S), the Dispositional Hope Scale (DHS), the Perceived Hope Scale (PHS), and the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) were administered. The research sample consisted of 102 participants, whose ages ranged from 20 to 65 years (Mage = 38.90, SD = 14.28). The research design was quantitative, exploratory, and confirmatory. Results: In total, 95% of participants reported positive changes related to COVID-19. Concurrently, up to 70% of these participants also reported negative changes from the impact of the pandemic. Only 25% of participants reported positive changes without noticing any negative perception of the consequences of the pandemic. Overall, 68% of participants reported negative changes related to COVID-19. Only 29% of participants reported negative changes without noticing any positive perception of the consequences of the pandemic. In total, up to 86% of participants agreed with experienced psychological changes (positive or negative) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The high prevalence of positive changes along with the relatively high prevalence of negative changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic outline the question of whether reported positive changes represent real or illusory growth. Optimism and pessimism were found to be significant independent predictors of positive changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hope was identified as a significant independent predictor of negative changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.