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The Role of Meaning in the Prediction of Psychosocial Well-being of Testicular Cancer Survivors

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Summary

Stressful life events, such as cancer, may threaten the belief that life is meaningful and this may have a negative effect on well-being. This study aimed at: (1) examining meaning in testicular cancer survivors (TCSs); (2) changes in outlook on life after testicular cancer (TC); (3) the contribution of meaning in the prediction of psychosocial well-being and cancer-related distress. A total of 354 TCSs completed relevant questionnaires. Results showed that: (1) TCSs experience their lives as meaningful; (2) most TCSs (60%) report a more positive outlook on life since TC; (3) meaning is the most important predictor for psychosocial well-being, but its relationship with cancer-related distress is weak. These results indicate that the cancer experience did not (permanently) disrupt the sense of meaning in TCSs. Furthermore, results confirm the idea that a sense of meaning has a positive effect on psychosocial well-being. Meaning appeared to have little effect on cancer-related distress. However, previous research has shown that this relationship may be too complex to unravel with a cross-sectional design. Therefore, it is suggested to further investigate the underlying interacting mechanisms between meaning and cancer-related distress.

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Abbreviations

TCSs:

testicular cancer survivors

TC:

testicular cancer

LRI:

Life Regard Index

RPLND:

retroperitoneal lymph node dissection

RRTM:

resection of residual tumor mass

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    J. Fleer, H. J. Hoekstra & M. A. Tuinman

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    D.Th. Sleijfer

  3. Department of Psychosocial services, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700, RB, Groningen, The Netherlands

    J. E. H. M. Hoekstra-Weebers

  4. Comprehensive Cancer Center North-Netherlands, Groningen, The Netherlands

    J. E. H. M. Hoekstra-Weebers

Authors
  1. J. Fleer
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  2. H. J. Hoekstra
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  3. D.Th. Sleijfer
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  4. M. A. Tuinman
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  5. J. E. H. M. Hoekstra-Weebers
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. E. H. M. Hoekstra-Weebers.

Additional information

Presented orally during the 7th world congress of psycho-oncology, August 25–28th, 2004, Kopenhagen, Denmark.

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Fleer, J., Hoekstra, H.J., Sleijfer, D. et al. The Role of Meaning in the Prediction of Psychosocial Well-being of Testicular Cancer Survivors. Qual Life Res 15, 705–717 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-005-3569-1

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