Stress and Growth in Cancer: Mechanisms and Psychotherapeutic Interventions to Facilitate a Constructive Balance

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Cristian Ochoa Arnedo¹  Nuria Sánchez⁴  Enric C. Sumalla¹  Anna Casellas-Grau¹ 

[1] Psycho-oncology Unit, Institut Català d’Oncologia, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat;Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge;Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology Department, Universitat de Barcelona;Hospital Clínic de Barcelona

关键词: cancer;    post-traumatic growth;    post-traumatic stress;    oncology;    vicarious growth;    secondary growth;    psychotherapy;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00177

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Post-traumatic stress and growth are common responses to adverse life events such as cancer. In this article, we establish how cancer becomes a “fertile land” for the emergence of stress and growth responses and analyze the main mechanisms involved. Stress-growth responses on adjusting to cancer is potentially determined by factors like the phase of the illness (e.g., initial phases vs. period of survivorship), patient’s coping strategies, meaning-making, and relationships with significant others. We also review the mechanisms of constructive and adaptative stress-growth balances in cancer to study the predictors, interrelated associations, triggering mechanisms, long-term results, and specific trajectories of these two responses to cancer. Finally, we update the evidence on the role of these stress-growth associations in psychologically adjusting to cancer. Together with this evidence, we summarize preliminary results regarding the efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions that aim to facilitate a constructive psychological balance between stress and growth in cancer patients. Recommendations for future research and gaps in knowledge on stress-growth processes in this illness are also highlighted. Researchers are encouraged to design and use psychotherapeutic interventions according to the dynamic and changeable patients’ sources of stress and growth along the illness. Relevant insights are proposed to understand the inconsistency of stress-growth literature and to promote psychotherapeutic interventions to facilitate a constructive balance between these key responses in cancer.

【 授权许可】

CC BY