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Lee and Kim: Posttraumatic Growth of Patients with Breast Cancer
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2012; 42(6): 907-915.

Published online: 31 December 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2012.42.6.907

Posttraumatic Growth of Patients with Breast Cancer

Sook Lee1, Yeon Jung Kim2

1Division of Nursing, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea.

2Counseling and Mediation Center, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Kim, Yeon Jung. Counseling and Mediation Center, Dankook University, 119 Dandae-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan 330-714, Korea. Tel: +82-41-550-1295, Fax: +82-41-559-7832, yjkim00@dankook.ac.kr

Received 20 April 2012       Accepted 25 November 2012

© 2012 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

A diagnosis of breast cancer is one of the most traumatic events that threatens a woman's life, but while women adapt to and overcome these threats, they not only experience negative aspects, but also growth. The purpose of this study was to identify the many factors that affect growth, and to provide fundamental information for nursing interventions, which can help the women in their growth.

Methods

The participants in this study were 131 married women patients with breast cancer, who were on medical treatment in one of two university hospitals, in Seoul and Chungnam. Data were collected for posttraumatic growth, self-esteem, cancer coping questionnaire, marital intimacy, and body image. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 19.0 program (IBM).

Results

Interpersonal cancer coping, intrapersonal cancer coping (planning) and self-esteem accounted for 29.0% of posttraumatic growth.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that in order to help the women's growth after the trauma of breast cancer, it is necessary to enhance their self-esteem, and to develop psycho-social nursing supportive programs.

Keywords: Self-esteem, Body image, Marital relationship, Breast neoplasm

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Posttraumatic Growth according to Demographic and Disease Characteristics (N=131)
jkan-42-907-i001

PTG=Posttraumatic growth; MRM=Modified radical mastectomy; BCS=Breast conserving surgery.

Table 2
Scores for Posttraumatic Growth, Self-esteem, Cancer-coping, Marital Intimacy and Body Image (N=131)
jkan-42-907-i002
Table 3
Correlation of Posttraumatic Growth, Self-esteem, Cancer-coping, Marital Intimacy and Body Image (N=131)
jkan-42-907-i003
Table 4
Factors related to Posttraumatic Growth (N=131)
jkan-42-907-i004

PDP=Postdiagnostic period.

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