Relationship between World Assumptions and Post-Traumatic Growth among Polish Cancer Patients: Moderating Effect of Rumination

Małgorzata Szcześniak (), Daria Madej and Grażyna Bielecka
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Małgorzata Szcześniak: Institute of Psychology, University of Szczecin, 71-017 Szczecin, Poland
Daria Madej: Institute of Psychology, University of Szczecin, 71-017 Szczecin, Poland
Grażyna Bielecka: Institute of Psychology, University of Szczecin, 71-017 Szczecin, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-16

Abstract: Background: Although post-traumatic growth is believed to be the result of complex interplays between various factors, cognitive variables appear to play a special role in these interactions. Yet, research on this topic is scant. Therefore, the first purpose of this study was to verify whether there is a direct relationship between world assumptions and post-traumatic growth among Polish cancer patients. As the effect of psychological change in post-traumatic growth may be affected by basic beliefs about the world and oneself, the second goal was to assess whether this association is moderated by rumination. Methods: The study included 215 Polish cancer patients. The Post-traumatic Growth and Depreciation Inventory—Expanded version—(intrusive and deliberate rumination), the World Assumption Scale, and the Event-related Rumination Inventory were applied. Results: Positive, albeit weak, correlations were found between the dimensions of world assumptions and post-traumatic growth. Post-traumatic growth correlated negatively with intrusive rumination and positively with deliberate rumination. The outcomes show that the level of post-traumatic growth resulting from world assumptions is significantly different at various levels of intrusive and deliberate rumination. Conclusion: Lower/medium intrusive rumination seems to strengthen the relationship between benevolence of the world/worthiness of the self and post-traumatic growth, and higher deliberate rumination tends to reinforce the relationship between meaningfulness and post-traumatic growth.

Keywords: cancer; oncology; shattered assumptions theory; post-traumatic growth; cognitions; intrusive rumination; deliberate rumination; moderation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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