Abstract

Objectives: Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is the experience of positive psychological growth as a result of struggle with highly challenging life crises. This study was conducted to investigate the degree of PTG and its associated factors, as well as to identify which positive psychological parameters most significantly associated with greater PTG among Malaysian cancer patients.

Design, sample, & methods: This cross-sectional survey included 195 patients with different cancer diagnoses. Perceived spousal support, level of hope, level of optimism, and PTG were measured using various validated indexes.

Findings: The total mean score for PTG Inventory-Short Form (PTGI-SF) was 39.87 (±9.09). Female gender, Islamic religious belief, and having higher level of hope and greater spousal support were associated with a higher PTGI-SF score, and the most significant predictor was the hope scale.

Conclusions: Malaysian cancer patients exhibited a high level of PTG, and hope was the positive psychological factor which was most significantly associated with PTG.

Implications for psychosocial providers: Psychosocial interventions that promote positive psychology should be included in the treatment for cancer patients.

摘要

目标：创伤后成长（PTG）是经历了极具挑战性的生活危机而奋斗的结果，是积极的心理成长的经历。这项研究的目的是调查PTG的程度及其相关因素，并确定在马来西亚癌症患者中，哪些积极的心理参数与更大的PTG最相关。

设计，样品和方法：这项横断面调查包括195位患有不同癌症诊断的患者。使用各种经过验证的指标来衡量可感知的配偶支持，希望水平，乐观水平和PTG。

结果： PTG库存-简表（PTGI-SF）的总平均得分为39.87（±9.09）。女性，伊斯兰宗教信仰，更高的希望水平和更大的配偶支持与更高的PTGI-SF得分相关，而最重要的预测因子是希望量表。

结论：马来西亚癌症患者表现出较高的PTG水平，希望是与PTG最显着相关的积极心理因素。

对社会心理提供者的影响：促进积极心理学的社会心理干预措施应包括在癌症患者的治疗中。