Existential challenges experienced by lymphoma survivors: Results from the 2010 LIVESTRONG Survey

Donna M. Posluszny, Mary Amanda Dew, Ellen Beckjord, Dana H. Bovbjerg, John E. Schmidt, Carissa A. Low, Amy Lowery, Stephanie A. Nutt, Sarah R. Arvey, Ruth Rechis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

We sought to examine the existential challenges that cancer survivors may experience as they strive to make meaning, regain their self-identity, cope with fear of recurrence, and experience feelings of grief and guilt. Lymphoma survivors (n = 429) completed the 2010 LIVESTRONG survey and provided responses about meaning, cancer worry, security, identity, grief, guilt, and perceived functional impairment due to these concerns. Most survivors (73%-'86%) endorsed existential concerns, with 30-39 percent reporting related perceived functional impairment. Concerns were associated with being female, younger, unmarried, and having undergone stem cell transplantation. Lymphoma survivors experience existential challenges that impact their life even years after diagnosis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2357-2366
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Health Psychology
Volume21
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • existential
  • lymphoma
  • meaning
  • survivorship
  • worry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Psychology

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