Post-Traumatic Growth in Adult Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review of Psychological Factors, Predictors, and Interventions

Abstract

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.