Perceptions of personal change reported by people with leukemia or lymphoma.

Abstract

The onset of a life-threatening illness is typically viewed as a disruptive, unexpected, and unwanted life event. However, the crisis of a life-threatening illness may also represent an opportunity for positive change and personal growth. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of having leukemia or lymphoma on people's perceptions of personal change. The 179 subjects who participated in the study ranged in age from 14- to 86-years old. They completed a survey questionnaire designed to assess the needs, service usage patterns, psychosocial status, attitudes, and demographic characteristics of people with leukemia or lymphoma. Data analyses showed many bivariate relationships, but the multivariate analyses helped summarize the relative contributions of age, coping strategies, and social support to the perceptions of positive life change for those living with cancer. Choice of coping strategy (i.e., perception of oneself as "cured" regardless of whether it was medically warranted) was the best predictor of positive change in mental health, activism, or social relations. Age was another important predictor of change in mental health: younger subjects reported more positive self-growth than older subjects. Having fewer worries about death, relapse, and future treatment was also predictive of positive changes in mental health. Support from close friends was an important variable explaining perception of positive change in activism or social relations. These results indicated that one's age, coping strategies, and use of social support combine to affect one's adjustment to having cancer. It should be stressed that people of all ages, with different coping strategies, and variable utilization of social support services all perceived positive change in their lives since living with cancer. Future research should continue to focus on people's positive adaptation to stress in an effort to facilitate positive coping by anyone diagnosed with a chronic illness. One of the most impressive qualities of the human psyche is its ability to withstand severe personal tragedy successfully, and the key to such adaptation is change and growth.