Posttraumatic growth following cancer: The influence of emotional intelligence, management of intrusive rumination, and goal disengagement as mediated by deliberate rumination

Abstract

Numerous researchers have demonstrated that deliberate rumination serves as the foremost precursor to posttraumatic growth (PTG). However, understanding the factors responsible for facilitating deliberate rumination remains limited. This study examined three factors proposed by the functional-descriptive model of PTG as facilitators of deliberate rumination-emotional intelligence, management of intrusive rumination, and goal disengagement-among the cancer survivor population. Cancer survivors (N = 221) were surveyed using mail-based methodology within two months and five years of completion of all cancer treatment. Relationships among PTG, deliberate rumination, management of intrusive rumination, emotional intelligence, and goal disengagement were analyzed using path analysis. Results suggested a positive link between emotional intelligence and PTG and deliberate rumination and PTG, and a negative link between management of intrusive rumination and deliberate rumination and goal disengagement and deliberate rumination. Interventions designed to enhance deliberate rumination and emotional intelligence are warranted, and the functional-descriptive model is in need of amendment if it is to accurately capture the experience of cancer survivors.