Cancer, now what? A cross-sectional study examining physical symptoms, subjective well-being, and psychological flexibility
ABSTRACTBackground: The impact of cancer extends beyond treatment and evaluating the adverse psychological effects in survivors is important. We examined: (1) the relationship between diagnosis, relapse, and subjective well-being using a short and a holistic measure of well-being, including comparis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21642850.2023.2266220 |
| _version_ | 1797245306742505472 |
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| author | Cecile J. Proctor Anthony J. Reiman Lisa A. Best |
| author_facet | Cecile J. Proctor Anthony J. Reiman Lisa A. Best |
| author_sort | Cecile J. Proctor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTBackground: The impact of cancer extends beyond treatment and evaluating the adverse psychological effects in survivors is important. We examined: (1) the relationship between diagnosis, relapse, and subjective well-being using a short and a holistic measure of well-being, including comparisons between our sample and established norms; (2) if reported physical symptoms were related to components of subjective well-being; and (3) if increased psychological flexibility predicted overall subjective well-being.Methods: In total, 316 survivors completed online questionnaires to assess cancer, physical health (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale-R; ESAS-R), subjective well-being (Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving; CIT; Satisfaction with Life Scale; SWLS) and psychological flexibility (Comprehensive Assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).Results: Relative to ESAS-R cut-points (Oldenmenger et al., 2013), participants reported only moderate levels of tiredness and slightly elevated drowsiness, depression, and anxiety; participants reported more problems with psychological health. SWLS scores were lower than published norms (M = 18.23, SD = 8.23) and a relapse was associated with the lowest SWLS scores (M = 16.95, SD = 7.72). There were differences in thriving between participants and age-matched norms (Su et al., 2014). Participants reported lower community involvement, respect, engagement with activities, skill mastery, sense of accomplishment, self-worth, self-efficacy, autonomy, purpose, optimism, subjective well-being, and positive emotions coupled with higher loneliness and negative emotions. In regression analysis, two components of psychological flexibility, Openness to Experience, t = 2.50, p < 0.13, β = −0.18, and Valued Action, t = 7.08, p < 0.001, β = −0.47, predicted 28.8% of the variability in total CIT scores, beyond the effects of demographic and disease characteristics and reported physical symptoms.Conclusion: Cancer is an isolating experience, with the adverse psychological effects that impact subjective well-being continuing after the cessation of physical symptoms. Specific components of psychological flexibility may explain some variability in thriving beyond disease characteristics and may inform psychological intervention after diagnosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:04:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa3db6c8c08e4e818e52b52fb53bd676 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2164-2850 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:24:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa3db6c8c08e4e818e52b52fb53bd6762024-03-25T16:25:58ZengTaylor & Francis GroupHealth Psychology and Behavioral Medicine2164-28502023-12-0111110.1080/21642850.2023.2266220Cancer, now what? A cross-sectional study examining physical symptoms, subjective well-being, and psychological flexibilityCecile J. Proctor0Anthony J. Reiman1Lisa A. Best2Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, CanadaDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, CanadaABSTRACTBackground: The impact of cancer extends beyond treatment and evaluating the adverse psychological effects in survivors is important. We examined: (1) the relationship between diagnosis, relapse, and subjective well-being using a short and a holistic measure of well-being, including comparisons between our sample and established norms; (2) if reported physical symptoms were related to components of subjective well-being; and (3) if increased psychological flexibility predicted overall subjective well-being.Methods: In total, 316 survivors completed online questionnaires to assess cancer, physical health (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale-R; ESAS-R), subjective well-being (Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving; CIT; Satisfaction with Life Scale; SWLS) and psychological flexibility (Comprehensive Assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).Results: Relative to ESAS-R cut-points (Oldenmenger et al., 2013), participants reported only moderate levels of tiredness and slightly elevated drowsiness, depression, and anxiety; participants reported more problems with psychological health. SWLS scores were lower than published norms (M = 18.23, SD = 8.23) and a relapse was associated with the lowest SWLS scores (M = 16.95, SD = 7.72). There were differences in thriving between participants and age-matched norms (Su et al., 2014). Participants reported lower community involvement, respect, engagement with activities, skill mastery, sense of accomplishment, self-worth, self-efficacy, autonomy, purpose, optimism, subjective well-being, and positive emotions coupled with higher loneliness and negative emotions. In regression analysis, two components of psychological flexibility, Openness to Experience, t = 2.50, p < 0.13, β = −0.18, and Valued Action, t = 7.08, p < 0.001, β = −0.47, predicted 28.8% of the variability in total CIT scores, beyond the effects of demographic and disease characteristics and reported physical symptoms.Conclusion: Cancer is an isolating experience, with the adverse psychological effects that impact subjective well-being continuing after the cessation of physical symptoms. Specific components of psychological flexibility may explain some variability in thriving beyond disease characteristics and may inform psychological intervention after diagnosis.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21642850.2023.2266220Effects of cancer diagnosisphysical symptomspsychological healthsubjective well-beingthriving |
| spellingShingle | Cecile J. Proctor Anthony J. Reiman Lisa A. Best Cancer, now what? A cross-sectional study examining physical symptoms, subjective well-being, and psychological flexibility Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine Effects of cancer diagnosis physical symptoms psychological health subjective well-being thriving |
| title | Cancer, now what? A cross-sectional study examining physical symptoms, subjective well-being, and psychological flexibility |
| title_full | Cancer, now what? A cross-sectional study examining physical symptoms, subjective well-being, and psychological flexibility |
| title_fullStr | Cancer, now what? A cross-sectional study examining physical symptoms, subjective well-being, and psychological flexibility |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cancer, now what? A cross-sectional study examining physical symptoms, subjective well-being, and psychological flexibility |
| title_short | Cancer, now what? A cross-sectional study examining physical symptoms, subjective well-being, and psychological flexibility |
| title_sort | cancer now what a cross sectional study examining physical symptoms subjective well being and psychological flexibility |
| topic | Effects of cancer diagnosis physical symptoms psychological health subjective well-being thriving |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21642850.2023.2266220 |
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