Motivation of cancer patients to help others and the relation between posttraumatic growth and helping

Autor

  • Weronika Trzmielewska SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw
  • Mariusz Zięba SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poznan
  • Marta Boczkowska Medical University of Lodz
  • Szymon Wrześniowski Independent researcher

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5114/cipp.2019.86231

Słowa kluczowe:

cancer patients, coping with trauma, posttraumatic growth, prosocial behaviour

Abstrakt

Background
Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is related to positive psychological changes following people’s struggle with trauma. The PTG model suggests that one of its possible consequences may be higher motivation towards helping behaviours. The aim of the research was to explore the influence of cancer illness on the motivation to help others, as perceived by participants, and the mechanisms behind such behaviour.

Participants and procedure
Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to explore the main motives to help others among cancer patients. The study also investigated the relation of perceived growth (PTG) and the frequency of providing help. Female cancer patients (n = 100) completed a Polish version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory and a questionnaire measuring frequency of providing help to-wards ill and healthy individuals. Some of the subjects (n = 29) were also interviewed to assess the main perceived motives to help others.

Results
Positive rho Spearman correlations between PTG and the frequency of help given towards ill individuals and healthy ones were found. Based on thematic analysis four motives of helping were identified: empathy, self-enhancement, internalized standards of behaviour, searching for the sense of life.

Conclusions
This findings highlight the positive association between cancer patients’ involvement in helping other cancer patients and posi-tive life changes after experience of cancer.

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Opublikowane

2019-10-21

Jak cytować

Trzmielewska, W., Zięba, M., Boczkowska, M., & Wrześniowski, S. (2019). Motivation of cancer patients to help others and the relation between posttraumatic growth and helping. Current Issues in Personality Psychology, 7(3), 232–241. https://doi.org/10.5114/cipp.2019.86231

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