Jennifer Brunet

The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory: an examination of the factor structure and invariance among breast cancer survivors

Objective: The present study tested the proposed five‐factor structure and invariance of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) in a sample of physically active breast cancer survivors.

Reviewing the Benefits of Physical Activity During Cancer Survivorship

Increasing physical activity is a possible strategy for the prevention and/or treatment of many physical and mental health conditions that are experienced among cancer survivors. Although engaging in physical activity is safe, feasible, and effective for cancer survivors, few are sufficiently active to obtain health benefits. This review summarizes findings from published research studies and review articles to highlight the benefits of physical activity for cancer survivors. For the purpose of this review, a cancer survivor is defined as an individual who has been diagnosed with cancer and who has completed all systemic or primary treatments. This review includes evidence from a wide range of sources to help provide a holistic summary of both quantitative and qualitative findings on the benefits of physical activity for cancer survivors. The benefits are presented within survival, biological/physiological, psychological, and social themes using a using a broad quality of life model. The evidence suggests physical activity is associated with reduced rates of mortality, improved immune function, improved health-related quality of life, decreased fatigue, improved fitness, maintenance of healthy weight and bone density, improved physical and psychological indicators of well-being, and that physical activity programs can foster social support and feelings of connectedness. This review establishes that physical activity may reduce the various adverse side effects associated with cancer treatments and improve cancer survivors’ physical, psychological and social quality of life facets. Encouraging physical activity is the first step in helping cancer survivors experience long-term health and well-being.

Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Survivorship: Evidence-Based Recommendations

The completion of primary treatment for breast cancer has been referred to as a “teachable moment” for health behavior change, suggesting that women are receptive to receiving physical activity counseling. However, the majority of breast cancer survivors are not sufficiently active. Health care providers may play a pivotal role in increasing patients’ physical activity behavior, yet physician counseling for physical activity is not done regularly. One reason for this failure may relate to the limited guidelines put forward to assist health care providers in how best to optimize the benefits of physical activity among breast cancer survivors. To help provide guidelines for physical activity counseling with breast cancer survivors, the authors synthesized evidence-based recommendations based on a review of 30 intervention studies. The evidence on (1) type, (2) intensity, and (3) frequency and duration of physical activity for this population was examined. On the basis of the reviewed studies, the authors find that physical activity programs for breast cancer survivors should include aerobic training at least 3 times/wk for 30 minutes, resistance training 2 to 3 times/wk (6-12 exercises), and flexibility training 3 times/wk for 50 to 60 minutes to obtain health benefits. The provision of these recommendations may facilitate effective and consistent delivery of physical activity counseling to breast cancer survivors.

Invariance test of the Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire: do women with breast cancer interpret this measure differently?

PurposeTo examine whether the meaning and interpretation of body image are similar for breast cancer survivors and women without breast cancer.MethodWomen completed the Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire—Appearance Scales as part of two studies. There were 469 women with breast cancer and 385 women without breast cancer. Invariance testing was conducted to examine whether the items assessing the body image dimensions were similar, whether the dimensions were interpreted similarly, whether the items were equally salient and meaningful, and whether there were mean differences on the body image dimensions across the two groups.ResultsThe meaning and interpretation of body image dimensions related to appearance evaluation and appearance orientation were similar across the groups, yet some group differences were found for overweight preoccupation and body areas satisfaction (and not testable for self-classified weight). Breast cancer survivors reported a small yet significantly higher mean on appearance evaluation and lower mean on appearance orientation compared to the women without breast cancer.ConclusionsMeaningful comparisons in body image across cancer and non-cancer women can be made using two of the Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire—Appearance Scales. The overweight preoccupation subscale could be used to assess body image but should not be used if group mean differences are desirable. Assessing satisfaction with body areas across these groups is not recommended and may introduce systematic bias.

In the Company We Keep Social Physique Anxiety Levels Differ around Parents and Peers

This study examined the psychometric properties of two scales which assessed social physique anxiety (SPA) in the context of peers (peer SPA) and parents (parent SPA), and differences in reported levels of peer SPA and parent SPA. Young adults (N = 381, 161 males, Mage = 18.69 years) completed self-report measures. Results supported the internal consistency, convergent validity and factor structure of the peer SPA and parent SPA scales. Also, participants reported significantly higher levels of peer SPA compared to parent SPA. Findings offer preliminary support for the investigation of contextualized SPA using the scales tested in this study, and suggest more research is needed to better understand the processes that may increase or decrease SPA when surrounded by peers and parents.