Predicting changes in posttraumatic growth and subjective well-being among breast cancer survivors: the role of social support and stress

ObjectiveSocial support is theoretically expected to be positively associated with posttraumatic growth (PTG) and subjective well-being, and stress is expected to be positively associated with PTG and negatively associated with subjective well-being among breast cancer (BC) survivors. However, empirical evidence is mixed, predominantly cross-sectional, and few studies have examined the unique effects of these predictors on positive changes in psychological experiences post cancer diagnosis and systemic treatment. This study examined both general and BC-specific social support and stress as predictors of change in PTG and subjective well-being among BC survivors. MethodsWomen (N=173, M-age=55.40, SD=10.99) who had recently finished treatment completed demographic and treatment measures at baseline (T1); general and cancer-specific social support and stress, PTG and subjective well-being at 3months (T2); and PTG and subjective well-being again at 6months (T3). Longitudinal predictors of change in PTG and subjective well-being were examined using hierarchical multiple regression. ResultsThe BC-specific social support (=.12) and stress (cancer worry; =.10) predicted increasing levels of PTG. Improvements in subjective well-being were predicted by higher levels of general social support (=.21) and lower levels of general stress (=-.59). ConclusionsThere are distinct predictors of change in PTG and subjective well-being among BC survivors, supporting the distinction between the trauma-specific process of PTG and well-being. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.