Posttraumatic Growth Among Breast Cancer Survivors in Ghana

Abstract

Cancer of the breast is one of the most diagnosed cancers in women and causes most deaths in women globally. While the diagnosis of breast cancer is increasing globally, due to early diagnosis and improved treatment, many women also survive from the disease. The breast cancer experience has been known to be a series of ongoing trauma that can last for a very long time even to survivorship. While the rate of survival is increasing globally and locally, there is scarcity of knowledge about the changes that have occurred in the lives of these women who experienced breast cancer. The aim of this study is to assess Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) in breast cancer survivors in Ghana and to investigate the factors that relate and impact on PTG. This study employed the cross-sectional survey where 150 breast cancer survivors were conveniently selected to respond to some validated questionnaires. The study found that Age, Years of survival and Marital status had a positive association with Posttraumatic Growth. It was also found that there was no association between educational level, employment status, religion and disease/treatment factors and Posttraumatic growth. Regression analysis shows that Optimism, Coping, and Social Support have a direct effect on Posttraumatic Growth. Also, an indirect effect was found between Religiosity and Posttraumatic Growth. Another indirect effect was found between cognitive processing and Posttraumatic Growth. Findings from this study together with the implications have been discussed.