BREAST CANCER PATIENT?S EXPERIENCE OF POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH: RELATIONSHIP WITH COPING STRATEGIES AND SOCIAL SUPPORT.

  • Contractual Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, 190006.
  • Sr. Asst. Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, 190006.
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Survival rates in breast cancer patients have improved due to increased options for early diagnosis and better treatment methods. The diagnosis of breast cancer affects individuals both positively and negatively in physical, psychological and social dimensions. However, the negative effect of trauma has been well documented in literature, with limited data on positive effects. Nevertheless, the identification of positive changes and defining its determinants is important in supporting and strengthening posttraumatic growth in this group. This study investigated the relationship between coping strategies, social support and post-traumatic growth. The main research design was cross-sectional and responses were taken from 176 participants who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Participants were taken from Department of Radiation Oncology, Government Medical College and Associated Hospitals, Karan Nagar, Srinagar, Department of Oncology, Florence Hospital, Chanapora, Srinagar, Department of Oncology, Noora Hospital Srinagar and Cancer Society of Kashmir (NGO), Lal Nagar, Chanapora, Srinagar, Kashmir, in the age range of 25-70 years (mean age=46.6, SD= 10.9). Patients completed the sample survey packets comprised of ?Brief COPE, (Carver, 1997)?, ?Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet & Farley, 1988)? and ?Post Traumatic Growth Inventory-Short-Form (Cann, Calhoun, Tedeschi, Taku, Vishnevsky, Triplett & Danhauer, 2010)? and demographic data sheet. Bivariate analysis revealed that Active-adaptive coping and Social Support (Family, Friends and Significant other) are significantly correlated with post-traumatic growth. Multiple regression analysis was applied to investigate the degree to which post-traumatic is influenced by Coping and Social Support. Results revealed that Active-adaptive coping and support from Family and Significant other significantly influence post-traumatic growth.

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Shams Un Nisa and Touseef Rizvi. (2017); BREAST CANCER PATIENT?S EXPERIENCE OF POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH: RELATIONSHIP WITH COPING STRATEGIES AND SOCIAL SUPPORT., Int. J. of Adv. Res., 5 (10), 1826-1832, ISSN 2320-5407. DOI URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/5708

Shams Un Nisa
University of Kashmir, Hazratbal Srinagar

DOI:

Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/5708      
DOI URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/5708

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