Uncertainty, Social Support, Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Psychological Growth in Patients with Hematologic Cancers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among uncertainty, perceived social support, posttraumatic stress symptoms and psychological growth in patients with hematologic cancers, and to identify factors influencing posttraumatic stress symptoms and psychological growth.

A predictive correlational design was used. Data were collected by survey interview using questionnaires during 2014, 166 participants diagnosed with hematologic cancer from a university hospital located in Seoul. Uncertainty was measured by Mishels Uncertainty in Illness Scale – Community Form, perceived social support was measured by Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, posttraumatic stress symptoms was measured by PTSD Checklist – Civilian Version and psychological growth was measured by Growth Through Uncertainty Scale. Data were analyzed using Windows SPSS 21.0 program.

Significant correlations were identified among all four variables. As a result of multiple regression analysis, uncertainty and perceived social support were discovered to account for 31.2% of the variance in posttraumatic stress symptoms. Perceived social support, bone marrow transplantation or relapse, psychological treatment, and economic status were discovered to account for 23.1% of the variance in psychological growth. The variable that most affected a posttraumatic stress symptom was uncertainty and the variable that most affected a psychological growth was perceived social support.

The results of the study demonstrate the importance of uncertainty and social support in explaining posttraumatic stress symptoms and psychological growth. Thus, uncertainty and social support needs to be integrated in developing psychosocial interventions to relieve psychological stress and to promote psychological growth in patients with hematologic cancers.