Enhanced Benefit Finding in Women with Early Stage Breast Cancer

A growing body of literature points to positive§contributions made by the cancer experience (benefit§finding), such as an improvement in personal§resources and skills, an enhanced sense of purpose, a§positive adjustment in life priorities, and closer§relationships. This study explored multiple aspects§of the relationships between intrapersonal and§interpersonal coping skills reported after§participating in a group-based cognitive-behavioral§stress management intervention or a one-day seminar,§levels of social functioning reported at 3- and§9-month follow-ups. and reports of benefit finding§measured at 3- and 9-month follow-ups. Participants,§136 women newly treated for stage 0-II breast cancer,§were randomized to either the intervention or the§control group, and were initially assessed§approximately 4-8 weeks after breast cancer surgery§(T1), then at the end of the intervention (T2), then§at 3-month follow-up (T3), and again after a 9-month§follow-up (T4). Skill building was operationalized as§the difference between T1 and T2 coping skills§scores. The study examined which of these variables§may have contributed to the report of benefit finding§at T3.