Constructive, illusory, and distressed posttraumatic growth among survivors of breast cancer: A 7-year growth trajectory study

Abstract

A total of 84 breast cancer survivors completed a package of psychological inventories in 2009 (Time 1), 2012 (Time 2), and 2016 (Time 3). Latent class growth analysis revealed three posttraumatic growth trajectory patterns: distressed posttraumatic growth ( n = 5, 6.7%), illusory posttraumatic growth ( n = 42, 56.0%), and constructive posttraumatic growth ( n = 28, 37.3%). Women with more frequent use of helplessness–hopelessness coping and lower depression levels at Time 1 were more likely to display an illusory than a constructive posttraumatic growth trajectory pattern. Illusory posttraumatic growth might represent a form of coping rather than authentic positive changes. Researchers and clinicians should understand different patterns of posttraumatic growth.