Unique associations of eudaimonic and hedonic wellbeing with psychosocial adjustment in breast cancer survivors

Abstract

Purpose: Eudaimonic wellbeing (e.g., meaning, purpose in life) and hedonic wellbeing (e.g., happiness, life satisfaction) are related but conceptually distinct facets of wellbeing. Eudaimonic wellbeing is highly underexplored in cancer research despite its relevance to important existential concerns faced by cancer survivors. Therefore, this study examined the unique associations of eudaimonic and hedonic wellbeing with adjustment in breast cancer survivors.

Methods: Women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer within two years (N = 64) were recruited through the UCLA Tumor Registry and completed self-report questionnaires (Mental Health Continuum – Short Form Scale, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Social Provisions Scale, Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Fatigue Symptom Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale).

Findings: Controlling for their shared variance and covariates, eudaimonic wellbeing was uniquely associated with greater posttraumatic growth (β = 0.42, p = .026, R² = .07), more reliable social support (β = 0.50, p = .010, R² = .09), and marginally lower fear of recurrence (β = –0.40, p = .063, R² = .06) while hedonic wellbeing was uniquely associated with lower sleep disturbance (β = –0.56, p = .004, R² = .12), fatigue (β = –0.53, p = .003, R² = .11), and depressive symptoms (β = –0.59, p < .001, R² = .14).

Conclusions: Findings suggest eudaimonic wellbeing may confer quality of life benefits beyond symptom reduction in breast cancer survivors, while hedonic wellbeing is primarily associated with fewer behavioral symptoms.

Keywords:

• adjustment
• breast cancer
• eudaimonic
• hedonic
• survivorship
• wellbeing

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Notes

a Other subscales were not included to minimize overlap with social connection, a theorized facet of eudaimonic wellbeing.¹

b Analyses conducted excluding the positive relations with others item (“you had warm and trusting relationships with others”) of the eudaimonic wellbeing subscale demonstrated the same pattern of results (β = 0.35, p = .059, R² = .05).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by funding from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation awarded to JEB. PIM received support from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32GM084903) and National Cancer Institute (T32CA193193). LND received support from the National Institute on Aging (T32AG033533) and National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32GM084903). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.