Influence of Personality Traits Coping and Social Support on Post Traumatic Growth A Study of Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

There has been an important shift in the literature on post-trauma outcomes as newlineresearchers have begun to investigate the positive life changes or post-traumatic newlinegrowth (PTG), implying positive psychological changes following traumatic events. newlineThis concept of post-traumatic growth focusing on positive outcomes and changes newlineoccurring in the aftermath of trauma opens a new line of thinking about trauma s newlineeffects. After decades of research and experience with the negative effects of newlineexposure to trauma, only recently there has been a turn to the potential for growth in newlinethe wake of trauma. Post-traumatic growth has been highlighted in literature as newlinepositive outcome of trauma. There is a growing body of research which indicates that some individuals who experience a traumatic event are able to experience posttraumatic growth. This process of post-traumatic growth has been evidenced newlinefollowing a wide range of traumatic events including diagnosis of a life threatening newlineillness such as breast cancer. Research suggests that individuals experience posttraumatic growth from chronic health conditions such as diagnosis and treatment of newlinebreast cancer. Being diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer is an extremely newlinestressful experience for most individuals. The literature on stress and coping has newlinemostly focused on negative outcomes in relation to a person s experience with breast cancer. A theoretical framework that examines positive and transformative changes that may occur throughout the cancer experience has been under-represented in newlineliterature. Breast cancer patients report perception of benefits or post-traumatic newlinegrowth in the aftermath of struggle with breast cancer. This study investigated the newlinerelationship between personality traits, coping, social support and post-traumatic growth. The main research design was cross-sectional and responses were taken from newline176 participants who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Participants were taken newlinefrom Department of Radiation Oncology, Government Medical College and newlineAssociated....