Positive changes following cancer: posttraumatic growth in the context of other factors in patients with cancer.

PURPOSE: The incidence of posttraumatic growth (PTG) has mostly been researched after typical traumatic events such as war, violence, bereavement, vehicle accidents, and so forth. This research has shown that PTG also occurs after cancer. This article presents the results of research which focused on PTG and what was related to its incidence, such as the specific reaction to trauma, among patients with hematological cancer (N = 72). The differences in the levels of PTG were analyzed from the perspective of demographic characteristics, characteristics of the disease, and treatment. METHODS: PTG was measured using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-Czech version (PTGI-CZ). The associated variables were measured using instruments in measuring benefit findings [Benefit Finding Scale for Children-Czech version (BFSC-CZ)], distress tolerance [Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS)], hope [Adult Hope Trait Scale (AHTS)], and optimism [Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R)]. RESULTS: Regression analysis found that a higher perception of benefits of the disease (benefit findings) and a greater effort to regulate feelings of distress (distress regulation) explained 67.1% of the variance of PTG. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in the level of PTG in terms of demographic indicators, type of cancer, current state of disease, or type of treatment. It was found that it was important for patients to perceive that their disease had been beneficial in a certain way. It was also important that patients made a great effort to regulate distress, which can occur when coping with the negative consequences of a disease, and at the same time, it is important for the process of PTG.

Socio-economic differences in self-esteem of adolescents influenced by personality, mental health and social support.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicate that self-esteem is lower among adolescents of low socio-economic status and is associated with a number of intrapersonal, interpersonal and socio-cultural factors. Evidence on the mechanisms by which these factors contribute to the connection between socio-economic status and developing self-esteem is incomplete, however. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to assess whether personality, mental health and social support contribute to the relationship between socio-economic status and self-esteem. METHODS: A sample of 3694 elementary-school students from Slovakia (mean age = 14.3 years, 49% boys) filled out the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, the Family Affluence Scale, the Ten-Item Personality Inventory, the 12-item General Health Questionnaire and the Perceived Social Support Scale. RESULTS: Hierarchical linear regression showed family affluence, personality dimensions of extroversion, emotional stability and openness to experience, as well as mental health subscales and social support from family and significant others to be associated with self-esteem. Results indicate that personality dimensions and mental health subscales contribute to the association between family affluence and self-esteem. CONCLUSION: The contribution of personality and mental problems in the relation between socio-economic status and self-esteem may have important implications for the design of promotional programs aimed at enhancing self-esteem.

Self-esteem and resilience: the connection with risky behavior among adolescents.

The aim was to explore the association of self-esteem and resilience with smoking and cannabis use among adolescents, separately for gender. A sample of 3694 adolescents (mean age 14.3 years) from elementary schools in Slovakia filled out the Rosenberg Self-esteem scale, the Resiliency scale and answered questions about cigarette and cannabis use. Logistic regression models showed associations between negative self-esteem and risky behavior, but only among boys. Regarding resilience, structured style and family cohesion were associated with a lower probability of smoking and cannabis use among both boys and girls. In contrast, social competence increased the probability of smoking and cannabis use among both groups. Negative self-esteem seems to play an important role regarding smoking and cannabis use among boys. Resilience seems to have mixed effects, some aspects being protective while other aspects increase the likelihood of smoking and use of cannabis. These results imply that the prevention of substance use should target not only specific individual characteristics, but also the possible risk or protective influences of the social environment, i.e. the family and social network.