Author: Nida Javaid
Supervisor: Dr. Rafia Rafique
Degree: MPhil
Year: (2009 – 2011)
University: Institute of Applied Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
The present research was conducted to find out differences in posttraumatic growth and life satisfaction among women diagnosed with breast cancer and three other types of cancer’s namely leukemia, cervix and ovary cancer. It was hypothesized that overall posttraumatic growth will be different in women diagnosed with breast cancer as compared to those diagnosed with other three types of cancer namely leukemia, cervix and ovary cancer. Furthermore it was hypothesized that posttraumatic growth as assessed by relating to others, spiritual change, new possibilities, appreciation of life and personal strength will be different in women diagnosed with breast cancer as compared to other three types of cancer. Furthermore it was hypothesized that life satisfaction will be different in women diagnosed with breast cancer as compared to those diagnosed with three other types of cancer. It was also hypothesized that there is a relationship between posttraumatic growth and life satisfaction. To infer the proposed hypotheses a sample of 60 women diagnosed with cancer was recruited through purposive sampling technique. Data was collected from two major hospitals of Lahore, city. Posttraumatic growth inventory developed by Tedeschi and Calhoun in 1996 and Life Satisfaction developed by Ed Diener and colleagues in 1985 were used to measure the study variables. t-test and correlation analysis was conducted to analyze the proposed hypotheses. Significant difference were found on life satisfaction between women diagnosed with breast cancer and other three types of cancer namely leukemia, cervix and ovary cancer. Non-significant differences were reported between women diagnosed with breast cancer and women diagnosed with other three types of cancer on posttraumatic growth. Furthermore the results of study indicated that there is a significant association between subscales of posttraumatic growth (relating to others) and life satisfaction. Our study findings have important implications for the provision of psychological interventions and future research.
Keywords: posttraumatic growth, life satisfaction, cancer, women.
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Corresponding Address: Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: chairperson@appsy.pu.edu.pk, Phone: 92-42-9231245
