Meaning-making intervention during breast or colorectal cancer treatment improves self-esteem, optimism, and self-efficacy

• Published in: Social science & medicine (1982) Vol. 62; no. 12; pp. 3133 - 3145
• Main Authors: Lee, Virginia, Robin Cohen, S., Edgar, Linda, Laizner, Andrea M., Gagnon, Anita J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2006; Elsevier; Pergamon Press Inc
• Series: Social Science & Medicine
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Cancer; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Canada; Canada Randomized controlled trial Meaning Coping Psychological adjustment Cancer; Cancer; Cognitive Therapy - methods; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - psychology; Colorectal Neoplasms - therapy; Coping; Empowerment; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Health; Hospitals, University; Humans; Intervention; Life Change Events; Male; Mammary gland diseases; Meaning; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Medicine; Mental health; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Narration; Neoplasm Staging; Optimism; Problem Solving; Psychological adjustment; Psychology; Psychotherapy, Brief; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Quebec; Randomized controlled trial; Self Concept; Self Efficacy; Self Esteem; Self image; Selfesteem; Social sciences; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - therapy; Tumors; Canada; North America; America; Quebec; Canada; Coping; Psychological adjustment; Randomized controlled trial; Meaning; Cancer; Rectal disease; Colorectal cancer; Randomization; Optimism pessimism; Self efficacy; Intestinal disease; Clinical trial; Self esteem; Mammary gland; Social aspect; Public health; Support psychotherapy; Breast cancer; Malignant tumor; Colonic disease; Mammary gland diseases; Treatment; Randomised controlled trial; Digestive diseases; Social medicine; Social support
• ISSN: 0277-9536; 1873-5347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.11.041

Existential issues often accompany a diagnosis of cancer and remain one aspect of psychosocial oncology care for which there is a need for focused, empirically tested interventions. This study examined the efficacy of a novel psychological intervention specifically designed to address existential issues through the use of meaning-making coping strategies on psychological adjustment to cancer. Eighty-two breast or colorectal cancer patients were randomly chosen to receive routine care (control group) or up to four sessions that explored the meaning of the emotional responses and cognitive appraisals of each individual's cancer experience within the context of past life events and future goals (experimental group). This paper reports the results from 74 patients who completed and returned pre- and post-test measures for self-esteem, optimism, and self-efficacy. After controlling for baseline scores, the experimental group participants demonstrated significantly higher levels of self-esteem, optimism, and self-efficacy compared to the control group. The results are discussed in light of the theoretical and clinical implications of meaning-making coping in the context of stress and illness.