The Role of Rumination, Core Beliefs in Cancer Patients’ Posttraumatic Growth 

Interventions that address rumination and explore patients’ core beliefs can potentially promote posttraumatic growth in patients with cancer, according to results of a recent study. Further research should explore additional influential factors in this relationship. These findings were published in Cancer Nursing.

Cancer often induces significant distress, impacting the psychological well-being of patients. Many patients with cancer experience adverse psychological effects, but some undergo positive changes termed posttraumatic growth.

This study aimed to explore the role of deliberate rumination and basic beliefs in fostering posttraumatic growth among patients with cancer to inform treatment development.

A sample of 139 patients in Turkey with cancer completed self-report measures assessing rumination, basic beliefs, and posttraumatic growth. Analyses included multiple linear regression and moderated mediation models.

Intrusive rumination, deliberate rumination, and disruptions in basic beliefs strongly predicted posttraumatic growth. Deliberate rumination fully mediated this relationship. Intrusive rumination consistently exhibited a positive indirect effect on posttraumatic growth across various levels of basic beliefs.

The study’s limitation lies in its exclusive focus on a specific group of adult patients in Turkey, potentially limiting the application of findings to other cultural or demographic groups. Validation through diverse samples is necessary. 

Additionally, reliance on self-reported measures may introduce response bias and inadequately capture the intricate psychological processes associated with posttraumatic growth. Furthermore, the study’s cross-sectional design hinders the establishment of causal relationships between variables.

“Clinically, the findings highlight the need of treating disrupted basic beliefs and rumination in therapies targeted at improving [posttraumatic growth]. Clinicians can assist individuals in recognizing and managing intrusive rumination, as well as advocating deliberate rumination as a constructive cognitive process for making sense of a traumatic event and fostering growth,” explained the authors.

The study’s outcomes affirm that intrusive rumination, deliberate ruminating, and disruptions in basic beliefs significantly forecast posttraumatic growth among survivors of cancer. They illustrate the intricate relationship between these cognitive processes and belief systems concerning posttraumatic growth. Interestingly, higher levels of intrusive rumination were associated with lower levels of posttraumatic growth, suggesting it may hinder the growth process.

Reference

Gür GC, Öztürk FÖ. Rumination, basic beliefs, and posttraumatic growth in cancer patients: a moderated mediation model. Cancer Nurs. Published online November 20, 2023. doi:10.1097/NCC.0000000000001298