School of Psychology

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Browsing School of Psychology by Author "2014 World Cancer Congress Abstracts (3 Dec 2014 - 6 Dec 2014 : Melbourne, Vic.)"

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    Aging and the existential: spiritual wellbeing, quality of life, and psychological morbidity in older adult cancer survivors
    (Wiley, 2014) Whitford, H.; Bond, M.; Collins, K.; 2014 World Cancer Congress Abstracts (3 Dec 2014 - 6 Dec 2014 : Melbourne, Vic.)
    Background: Despite 60% of cancer diagnoses occurring in elderly adults, in many studies, geriatric survivors appear more resilient to psychological morbidity than younger cohorts, despite other unique burdens. In support of the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model of quality-of-life (QOL), some research suggests this resilience may reflect elevated spiritual wellbeing with age. Aim: Using the 23-item expanded Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-being (FACIT-Sp-Ex), we investigated extended subscales subscales to the original FACIT-Sp-12 in geriatric oncology survivors, derived through principal components analysis: Peace, Meaning, Faith, Positive Interaction. Methods: One-hundred-and-thirty-two cancer survivors aged >/-70 years completed a cross-sectional questionnaire including the FACIT-Sp-Ex; the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) including Physical, Social/Family, Emotional, and Functional Wellbeing subscales; and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21). Results: Compared to a younger, normative sample of 867 Australian cancer survivors aged 19-69 years (M = 54.4), the geriatric group (M = 77.3 years) showed higher levels of Peace (p = .001, f = .11) and Positive Interaction (p = .000, f = .10), and lower levels of Stress (p = .001, f = .11). For the geriatric group, using an arbitrary cut-off (r >/- .40), Peace evidenced positive correlations with Functional (r = .63), Emotional (r = .55), and Physical Wellbeing (r = .43), and negative associations with Depression and Stress (both r = -.45). Meaning was positively correlated with Social/Family (r = .66) and Functional Wellbeing (r = .62), and negatively associated with Depression (r = -.47). Positive Interaction was associated with Social/Family (r = .48) and Functional Wellbeing (r = .41). Faith showed no associations r >/- .40. Conclusions: Relationships between spiritual wellbeing domains and QOL subscales generally mirrored previous findings in oncology. The newly derived Positive Interaction subscale (assessing forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, etc.) mirrored Meaning's associations with QOL, likely due to their interactional/social underpinnings. Peace and meaning again appeared highly important, demonstrating associations with decreased depression and/or stress, and given being elderly appeared to slightly elevate peace, positive interaction, and decrease stress, future investigations using mediation models may improve/extend interpretations.
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    Predicting fear of cancer recurrence in gynaecological cancer survivors
    (Wiley, 2014) Hughes, J.; Whitford, H.; Collins, K.; Denson, L.; 2014 World Cancer Congress Abstracts (3 Dec 2014 - 6 Dec 2014 : Melbourne, Vic.)
    Background: Despite high 5-year survival for some gynaecological cancers (/-.40), evidenced a significant model (p = .000) accounting for 63% of the variance on FCR (adjusted R2). Significant individual predictors included greater anxiously preoccupied coping style (beta = .51), 'threat/enemy' interpretations of cancer (beta = .17), poorer quality-of-life (beta = -.18), and greater fatalistic coping (beta = .14). Other predictors (depression, helpless/hopeless coping, 'punishment' interpretations, and psychological flexibility) were not significant. Conclusions: Compared to FCRI norms, participants appeared less concerned about cancer recurrence despite most being extended/permanent survivors (1+ years post-diagnosis), perhaps reflecting accurate expectations of good survival among gynaecological cancer survivors compared with other cancer types. Respondents' anxiously preoccupied coping style best predicted FCR, potentially highlighting a focus for intervention. Although single-item 'threat/enemy' interpretations of cancer appeared predictive of FCR and could act as a quick screening item, prediction was small-tomoderate in size, thus research into the previously proposed screening ability of the 9-item FCRI Severity subscale is warranted to determine the better tool.