AUTHOR=Walsh Deirdre M. J. , Morrison Todd G. , Conway Ronan J. , Rogers Eamonn , Sullivan Francis J. , Groarke AnnMarie 

TITLE=A Model to Predict Psychological- and Health-Related Adjustment in Men with Prostate Cancer: The Role of Post Traumatic Growth, Physical Post Traumatic Growth, Resilience and Mindfulness

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2018

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00136

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00136

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Background: Post traumatic growth (PTG) can be defined as positive change following a traumatic event. The current conceptualisation of PTG encompasses five main dimensions, however, there is no dimension which accounts for the distinct effect of a physical trauma on PTG. The purpose of the present research was to test the role of post traumatic growth, physical post traumatic growth, resilience and mindfulness in predicting psychological and health related adjustment. 
Method: Ethical approval was obtained from relevant institutional ethics committees. Participants (n=241), who were at least one year post prostate cancer treatment, were invited to complete a battery of questionnaires either through an online survey or a paper and pencil package received in the post The sample ranged in age from 44 to 88 years (M = 64.02, SD = 7.76). Data was analysed using confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modelling. 
Results: The P-PTGI was used to evaluate the role of physical post traumatic growth in predicting adjustment using structural equation modelling (SEM). Physical post traumatic growth predicted lower distress and improvement of quality of life, whereas conversely, the traditional post traumatic growth measure was linked with poor adjustment. The relationship between resilience and adjustment was found to be mediated by physical post traumatic growth.
Conclusion: Findings suggest the central role of PTG in the prostate cancer survivorship experience is enhanced by the inclusion of physical PTG. Adjusting to a physical trauma such as illness (internal transgressor) is unlike a trauma with an external transgressor as the physical trauma creates an entirely different framework for adjustment. The current study demonstrates the impact of physical PTG on adjustment. This significantly adds to the theory of the development of PTG by highlighting the interplay of resilience with PTG, physical PTG and adjustment.