Predicting posttraumatic growth among breast cancer survivors: The role of social support, stress, and physical activity

Abstract

Breast cancer survivors (BCS) often experience stress that can have an ongoing impact on quality of life (Vivar & McQueen, 2005). Physical activity and social support have been identified as possible mechanisms to improve well-being among BCS (Courneya et al., 2002; Nausheen et al., 2009). Social support and cancer-related stress have also both been positively linked to posttraumatic growth (PTG), defined as positive psychological changes resulting from struggling with extremely challenging events (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004). The purpose of this study was to examine social support, stress, and physical activity as unique and combined predictors of PTG over time among BCS. Recently treated BCS (N = 162) completed measures of PTG at baseline (T1) and measures of social support, cancer-related stress, physical activity, and PTG 3 months later (T2). Participants ranged in age from 28-79 years, 85% were Caucasian, and 81% had at least some post-secondary education. Cancer worry (ß = .09) and social support in the form of understanding breast cancer (ß = .10) significantly predicted T2 PTG, while controlling for T1 PTG, F(3, 151) = 129.41, R2 = .71, p < .01, change in R2 = .02, p = .02. Physical activity was not directly linked to PTG, but social support and cancer appear to play a role in PTG for BCS. Physical activity contexts can be a source of social support for BCS (e.g., Sabiston et al., 2007), suggesting that activity may play a more complex role in PTG development.

Acknowledgments: Research support from the Purdue Research Foundation and Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance