Post‐Traumatic Growth in Adult Cancer Survivors

A Scoping Review of Psychological Factors, Predictors, and Interventions

Bibliographic Data

ID21336976
AuthorsAnna Nisyraiou (0009-0009-7201-419X, Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research & Technology‐Hellas Thessaloniki Greece), Antonios Bozas (0000-0001-6911-3706, Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research & Technology‐Hellas Thessaloniki Greece, corresponding author), Dimitrios Kyrou (0000-0002-2015-7617, Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research & Technology‐Hellas Thessaloniki Greece), Konstantina Stavrogianni (0009-0009-3573-4163, Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research & Technology‐Hellas Thessaloniki Greece), Maria Vasilopoulou (0009-0005-2362-1728, Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research & Technology‐Hellas Thessaloniki Greece), Georgios-Marios Kalomoiris (Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research & Technology‐Hellas Thessaloniki Greece), Natalia Tsintsifa (Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research & Technology‐Hellas Thessaloniki Greece), Katerina Nikitara (0000-0002-7270-6278, Hellenic Cancer Federation Athens Greece), George Koulierakis (0000-0003-3705-1007, Department of Public Health Policy University of West Attica Athens Greece), Christina Karamanidou (0000-0002-2849-3690, Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research & Technology‐Hellas Thessaloniki Greece)
Year2025
Volume60
Issue5
Pagese70097-e70097
Publication date2025-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0020-7594 • E-ISSN: 1464-066X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ijop.70097
PMID40874359
OpenAlexW4413772700
LanguageEN
References cited147

Post‐traumatic growth (PTG), defined as positive psychological changes following trauma, has garnered attention in recent years within the context of cancer. This scoping review aims to synthesise and map PTG‐related studies published in the last 5 years among adult cancer populations. A comprehensive literature search identified 109 eligible studies published between 2018 and 2023, predominantly cross‐sectional in design, focusing on various cancer types, with a significant proportion examining breast cancer. The findings reveal that PTG is consistently associated with cognitive, emotional, social, and health‐related factors. Resilience, adaptive coping strategies (e.g., positive reappraisal, deliberate rumination, meaning‐making), and social support emerged as robust positive correlates. Conversely, psychological distress (depression, anxiety, intrusive rumination) and poor physical health were generally inversely associated with PTG. Longitudinal studies, while fewer, indicated that coping strategies and social support predict PTG trajectories; PTG can, in turn, influence subsequent adaptive coping and well‐being. Thirteen interventional studies were identified, with six demonstrating significant improvements in PTG in intervention groups, notably those incorporating elements like acceptance, self‐compassion, deliberate rumination, meaning‐making, and social support. This review underscores the complex nature of PTG, highlighting key psychosocial factors that facilitate its development in cancer survivors and suggesting promising avenues for therapeutic interventions

Cancer · Posttraumatic growth · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychotherapist · Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life · Clinical Psychology · Family Support in Illness · Medicine · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology

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