Association of cancer response styles and alexithymia with posttraumatic growth in breast cancer patients

Abstract

Objective: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common types of cancer seen in women. Many studies have been conducted to examine negative changes observed in patients diagnosed with BC. However, the traumatic experience of a cancer diagnosis can also have positive consequences, including post-traumatic growth (PTG), a positive life change that develops following a stressful experience. This study was an investigation of the relationship between PTG seen in female BC patients, cancer response style, and alexithymia, the inability to recognize and express one’s emotions. Method: A total of 89 female patients who were diagnosed with BC and receiving treatment were enrolled in the study. The Mental Adjustment to Cancer scale, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PGTI) were administered to the participants. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to assess the relationships between normally distributed variables. Results: There was a significant, positive relationship between the fighting spirit reaction style and the PTGI total score (r=0.49; p