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Comparing unidimensional and multidimensional models of benefit finding in breast and prostate cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

Psychosocial research with cancer patients has increasingly recognized that a large proportion report at least some positive changes or aspects of personal growth that occur because of their illness—a construct referred to as benefit finding. Although theory suggests that there may be several domains to benefit finding, measurement instruments such as the Benefit Finding Scale (BFS) are typically considered to be unidimensional.

Method

This study compared single and multiple factor models of the BFS using group confirmatory factor analysis in men with prostate cancer (n = 185) and women with breast cancer (n = 115) who were less than 2 years postdiagnosis.

Results

In both samples, the multiple-factor model fit the data significantly better than the single-factor model, and factor loadings were equivalent between groups. Men with prostate cancer reported greater Personal Growth benefit finding and women with breast cancer reported greater Social Relationships benefit finding. Differential relationships were observed between BFS factors and sociodemographic and disease-related variables.

Conclusion

Results suggest an alternate multidimensional framework for the BFS that may be generalizable across cancer populations. Future research should examine if BFS domains are differentially related to quality-of-life outcomes in both cancer and other medical patients.

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Notes

  1. The estimates of the means were identical for the models with and without the group specific correlated errors.

Abbreviations

BF:

Benefit finding

SRGS:

Stress-Related Growth Scale

PTGI:

Posttraumatic Growth Inventory

BFS:

Benefit Finding Scale

SES:

Socioeconomic status

CFA:

Confirmatory factor analysis

CFI:

Comparative Fit Index

RMSEA:

Root Mean Square Error of Approximation

SRMR:

Standardized Root Mean Squared Residual

AA/BC:

African American/Black Caribbean

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Acknowledgements

Kathryn Weaver is now a fellow in the Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, Office of Preventive Oncology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. This research was supported by grants NIMH 5T32MH018917 (N. Schneiderman, PI), NCI 1P50CA84944 (Antoni, PI), and NCI 5R03CA113096 (Lechner, PI).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Miami, P.O. Box 24-8185, Coral Gables, FL, 33134, USA

    Kathryn E. Weaver, María M. Llabre, Suzanne C. Lechner, Frank Penedo & Michael H. Antoni

  2. University of Miami School of Medicine, Coral Gables, FL, USA

    Suzanne C. Lechner, Frank Penedo & Michael H. Antoni

Authors
  1. Kathryn E. Weaver
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  2. María M. Llabre
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  3. Suzanne C. Lechner
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  4. Frank Penedo
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  5. Michael H. Antoni
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Correspondence to María M. Llabre.

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Weaver, K.E., Llabre, M.M., Lechner, S.C. et al. Comparing unidimensional and multidimensional models of benefit finding in breast and prostate cancer. Qual Life Res 17, 771–781 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9348-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9348-z

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