Benefit finding, posttraumatic growth and health-related quality of life in long-term cancer survivors: a prospective population-based study

Abstract

Background

We explored the relationship between benefit finding (BF)/posttraumatic growth (PTG) at baseline and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) at baseline and follow-up in long-term cancer survivors (LTCS; ≥5-year post-diagnosis).

Materials and methods

HRQOL was assessed in LTCS in 2009–2011 (5- to 16-year post-diagnosis, baseline) and re-assessed in 2018/2019 (14- to 24-year post-diagnosis, follow-up). BF and PTG were measured at baseline; mean scores were dichotomized into ‘none-to-low’ (<3) and ‘moderate-to-high’ (> =3). Linear regression models and linear mixed regression models were employed to assess the association of BF/PTG with HRQOL.

Results

Of the 6057 baseline participants, 4373 were alive in 2019, of whom 2704 completed the follow-up questionnaire. Cross-sectionally, LTCS with none-to-low BF reported better HRQOL at baseline and at follow-up than LTCS with higher BF. Longitudinally, no difference was found between none-to-low and moderate-to-high BF on the HRQOL change from baseline to follow-up. HRQOL differences between the PTG groups were not statistically significant cross-sectionally and longitudinally, except those participants with moderate-to-high PTG reported higher role functioning and global health status/QOL.

Conclusions

Cross-sectionally, BF was significantly negatively related to subscales of HRQOL, while PTG was positively correlated to role functioning and global health status/QOL. The results add further evidence that BF and PTG are two different positive psychological concepts.

Keywords:

• Benefit finding
• posttraumatic growth
• cancer survivors
• health-related quality of life

Author contributions

Z.L. analyzed the data and wrote the draft. M.S.Y.T. and D.D. reviewed and edited the article. L.K.-G. was the study manager of the CAESAR study. H.Be, A.E., B.H., A.W., S.R.Z., and R.P. contributed to the recruitment of study participants and data collection. H.Br and V.A. are the principal investigators of the CAESAR study. All authors read and approved the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Due to the nature of the research, ethical supporting data are not available.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by two grants from the German Cancer Aid [Nos. 108262, 70112089]. Z.L. was supported by the China Scholarship Council PhD Program (ID number: 201808320419).