{"id":{"repo_id":"dundee","oai_identifier":"oai:discovery.dundee.ac.uk:studenttheses/10d5554d-8987-436b-9558-4e6be5f844f2"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/dundee/oai:discovery.dundee.ac.uk:studenttheses/10d5554d-8987-436b-9558-4e6be5f844f2","repository":{"repo_id":"dundee","name":"University of Dundee","base_url":"https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/ws/oai"},"display":{"title":"Psychosocial determinants of post-traumatic stress among cancer survivors","abstract":"Cancer survivors can experience a number of consequences of their disease, both physical and psychological. In this thesis, I aimed to clarify the psychosocial processes that reduce or increase post-traumatic stress after cancer. “Social support,” for instance, has often been linked to post-traumatic stress, but I describe several problems with this concept. Alternatively, inspired by the Social Identity Approach (SIA) to health, I proposed that group identification, or a sense of belonging and commonality with social groups, might predict levels of post-traumatic stress after cancer. In line with Social Cognitive Processing Theory (SCPT), I also proposed that cancer survivors’ perceptions that members of their social groups are closed, judgmental, and unreceptive in conversations about cancer (“group constraints”) might predict post-traumatic stress. I proposed that these constructs might act in tandem to predict levels of post-traumatic stress.<br/><br/>To begin my programme of research, I conducted a meta-analysis that established factors contributing to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I also found an increased prevalence of PTSD among cancer survivors compared to controls without cancer. This meta-analysis demonstrated that cancer survivors can experience PTSD related to their illness. Subsequently, I undertook a series of quantitative questionnaire studies to establish psychosocial determinants of post-traumatic stress. My questionnaire included scales measuring post-traumatic stress, social support, group identification, and group constraints. In a pilot study, I used convenience sampling to test out the acceptability of the questionnaire and to provide a foundation for further hypothesising. Then, I distributed this piloted questionnaire to colorectal cancer survivors in Tayside. In initial “wave 1” cross-sectional analyses of this data, I found that social support was not an independent predictor of post-traumatic stress in multivariate analyses. However, group constraints consistently and independently predicted post-traumatic stress. Group identification exerted an effect on post-traumatic stress by reducing group constraints.<br/><br/>I then distributed the same questionnaire a second time to the same respondents from wave 1 in order to collect longitudinal data. The results of the data from respondents at both waves 1 and 2 revealed that social support was, in fact, a likely causal predictor of post-traumatic stress. Constraints within the family also causally reduced post-traumatic stress. Family identification was a weak causal factor in reducing post-traumatic stress, but reciprocally, post-traumatic stress reduced group identifications. The longitudinal data also provided further, albeit not strong, support for the hypothesis that family identification reduces post-traumatic stress by reducing constraints on conversations within the family.<br/><br/>Finally, in light of the consistent evidence from the quantitative studies above that conversational constraints are associated with increased post-traumatic stress, I conducted a qualitative interview study with a small number of cancer survivors aiming to characterise their experiences of conversations about cancer. The participants reported a broad range of experiences, beyond just constraints versus openness. These findings have broad implications for both theory and practice. For instance, in the final chapter, I discuss ways in which these results motivate further research on intersections between the Social Identity Approach and cancer-related post-traumatic stress. I also discuss implications for interventions going beyond traditional trauma exposure techniques.","abstract_html":"Cancer survivors can experience a number of consequences of their disease, both physical and psychological. In this thesis, I aimed to clarify the psychosocial processes that reduce or increase post-traumatic stress after cancer. “Social support,” for instance, has often been linked to post-traumatic stress, but I describe several problems with this concept. Alternatively, inspired by the Social Identity Approach (SIA) to health, I proposed that group identification, or a sense of belonging and commonality with social groups, might predict levels of post-traumatic stress after cancer. In line with Social Cognitive Processing Theory (SCPT), I also proposed that cancer survivors’ perceptions that members of their social groups are closed, judgmental, and unreceptive in conversations about cancer (“group constraints”) might predict post-traumatic stress. I proposed that these constructs might act in tandem to predict levels of post-traumatic stress.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;To begin my programme of research, I conducted a meta-analysis that established factors contributing to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I also found an increased prevalence of PTSD among cancer survivors compared to controls without cancer. This meta-analysis demonstrated that cancer survivors can experience PTSD related to their illness. Subsequently, I undertook a series of quantitative questionnaire studies to establish psychosocial determinants of post-traumatic stress. My questionnaire included scales measuring post-traumatic stress, social support, group identification, and group constraints. In a pilot study, I used convenience sampling to test out the acceptability of the questionnaire and to provide a foundation for further hypothesising. Then, I distributed this piloted questionnaire to colorectal cancer survivors in Tayside. In initial “wave 1” cross-sectional analyses of this data, I found that social support was not an independent predictor of post-traumatic stress in multivariate analyses. However, group constraints consistently and independently predicted post-traumatic stress. Group identification exerted an effect on post-traumatic stress by reducing group constraints.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;I then distributed the same questionnaire a second time to the same respondents from wave 1 in order to collect longitudinal data. The results of the data from respondents at both waves 1 and 2 revealed that social support was, in fact, a likely causal predictor of post-traumatic stress. Constraints within the family also causally reduced post-traumatic stress. Family identification was a weak causal factor in reducing post-traumatic stress, but reciprocally, post-traumatic stress reduced group identifications. The longitudinal data also provided further, albeit not strong, support for the hypothesis that family identification reduces post-traumatic stress by reducing constraints on conversations within the family.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Finally, in light of the consistent evidence from the quantitative studies above that conversational constraints are associated with increased post-traumatic stress, I conducted a qualitative interview study with a small number of cancer survivors aiming to characterise their experiences of conversations about cancer. The participants reported a broad range of experiences, beyond just constraints versus openness. These findings have broad implications for both theory and practice. For instance, in the final chapter, I discuss ways in which these results motivate further research on intersections between the Social Identity Approach and cancer-related post-traumatic stress. I also discuss implications for interventions going beyond traditional trauma exposure techniques.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Swartzman, Samantha"],"institution":"University of Dundee","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy","degree_level":"Doctoral Thesis","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Sani, Fabio","Hopkins, Nicholas"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2017,"date_issued":"2017","date_published":"2017","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:08:32Z","subjects":[],"languages":["eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oai:discovery.dundee.ac.uk:studenttheses/10d5554d-8987-436b-9558-4e6be5f844f2"],"render_values":[{"text":"oai:discovery.dundee.ac.uk:studenttheses/10d5554d-8987-436b-9558-4e6be5f844f2","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/10d5554d-8987-436b-9558-4e6be5f844f2","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Sani, Fabio","Hopkins, Nicholas"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Swartzman, Samantha"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2017"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2017"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.department","label":"Dc Publisher Department","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of Dundee"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby","values":["https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/10d5554d-8987-436b-9558-4e6be5f844f2"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Doctoral Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights.embargodate","label":"Dc Rights Embargodate","values":["2019-11-30"]},{"key":"dc:rights.embargoreason","label":"Dc Rights Embargoreason","values":["/dk/atira/pure/core/document/studentthesisembargoreason/commercialexploitation"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oai:discovery.dundee.ac.uk:studenttheses/10d5554d-8987-436b-9558-4e6be5f844f2","https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/10d5554d-8987-436b-9558-4e6be5f844f2"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/files/28543705/Thesis_with_corrections_FINAL_pdf.pdf"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Cancer survivors can experience a number of consequences of their disease, both physical and psychological. In this thesis, I aimed to clarify the psychosocial processes that reduce or increase post-traumatic stress after cancer. “Social support,” for instance, has often been linked to post-traumatic stress, but I describe several problems with this concept. Alternatively, inspired by the Social Identity Approach (SIA) to health, I proposed that group identification, or a sense of belonging and commonality with social groups, might predict levels of post-traumatic stress after cancer. In line with Social Cognitive Processing Theory (SCPT), I also proposed that cancer survivors’ perceptions that members of their social groups are closed, judgmental, and unreceptive in conversations about cancer (“group constraints”) might predict post-traumatic stress. I proposed that these constructs might act in tandem to predict levels of post-traumatic stress.<br/><br/>To begin my programme of research, I conducted a meta-analysis that established factors contributing to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I also found an increased prevalence of PTSD among cancer survivors compared to controls without cancer. This meta-analysis demonstrated that cancer survivors can experience PTSD related to their illness. Subsequently, I undertook a series of quantitative questionnaire studies to establish psychosocial determinants of post-traumatic stress. My questionnaire included scales measuring post-traumatic stress, social support, group identification, and group constraints. In a pilot study, I used convenience sampling to test out the acceptability of the questionnaire and to provide a foundation for further hypothesising. Then, I distributed this piloted questionnaire to colorectal cancer survivors in Tayside. In initial “wave 1” cross-sectional analyses of this data, I found that social support was not an independent predictor of post-traumatic stress in multivariate analyses. However, group constraints consistently and independently predicted post-traumatic stress. Group identification exerted an effect on post-traumatic stress by reducing group constraints.<br/><br/>I then distributed the same questionnaire a second time to the same respondents from wave 1 in order to collect longitudinal data. The results of the data from respondents at both waves 1 and 2 revealed that social support was, in fact, a likely causal predictor of post-traumatic stress. Constraints within the family also causally reduced post-traumatic stress. Family identification was a weak causal factor in reducing post-traumatic stress, but reciprocally, post-traumatic stress reduced group identifications. The longitudinal data also provided further, albeit not strong, support for the hypothesis that family identification reduces post-traumatic stress by reducing constraints on conversations within the family.<br/><br/>Finally, in light of the consistent evidence from the quantitative studies above that conversational constraints are associated with increased post-traumatic stress, I conducted a qualitative interview study with a small number of cancer survivors aiming to characterise their experiences of conversations about cancer. The participants reported a broad range of experiences, beyond just constraints versus openness. These findings have broad implications for both theory and practice. For instance, in the final chapter, I discuss ways in which these results motivate further research on intersections between the Social Identity Approach and cancer-related post-traumatic stress. I also discuss implications for interventions going beyond traditional trauma exposure techniques."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Psychosocial determinants of post-traumatic stress among cancer survivors"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Sani, Fabio","Hopkins, Nicholas"],"dc:creator":["Swartzman, Samantha"],"dc:date":["2017"],"dc:date.issued":["2017"],"dc:description.abstract":["Cancer survivors can experience a number of consequences of their disease, both physical and psychological. In this thesis, I aimed to clarify the psychosocial processes that reduce or increase post-traumatic stress after cancer. “Social support,” for instance, has often been linked to post-traumatic stress, but I describe several problems with this concept. Alternatively, inspired by the Social Identity Approach (SIA) to health, I proposed that group identification, or a sense of belonging and commonality with social groups, might predict levels of post-traumatic stress after cancer. In line with Social Cognitive Processing Theory (SCPT), I also proposed that cancer survivors’ perceptions that members of their social groups are closed, judgmental, and unreceptive in conversations about cancer (“group constraints”) might predict post-traumatic stress. I proposed that these constructs might act in tandem to predict levels of post-traumatic stress.<br/><br/>To begin my programme of research, I conducted a meta-analysis that established factors contributing to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I also found an increased prevalence of PTSD among cancer survivors compared to controls without cancer. This meta-analysis demonstrated that cancer survivors can experience PTSD related to their illness. Subsequently, I undertook a series of quantitative questionnaire studies to establish psychosocial determinants of post-traumatic stress. My questionnaire included scales measuring post-traumatic stress, social support, group identification, and group constraints. In a pilot study, I used convenience sampling to test out the acceptability of the questionnaire and to provide a foundation for further hypothesising. Then, I distributed this piloted questionnaire to colorectal cancer survivors in Tayside. In initial “wave 1” cross-sectional analyses of this data, I found that social support was not an independent predictor of post-traumatic stress in multivariate analyses. However, group constraints consistently and independently predicted post-traumatic stress. Group identification exerted an effect on post-traumatic stress by reducing group constraints.<br/><br/>I then distributed the same questionnaire a second time to the same respondents from wave 1 in order to collect longitudinal data. The results of the data from respondents at both waves 1 and 2 revealed that social support was, in fact, a likely causal predictor of post-traumatic stress. Constraints within the family also causally reduced post-traumatic stress. Family identification was a weak causal factor in reducing post-traumatic stress, but reciprocally, post-traumatic stress reduced group identifications. The longitudinal data also provided further, albeit not strong, support for the hypothesis that family identification reduces post-traumatic stress by reducing constraints on conversations within the family.<br/><br/>Finally, in light of the consistent evidence from the quantitative studies above that conversational constraints are associated with increased post-traumatic stress, I conducted a qualitative interview study with a small number of cancer survivors aiming to characterise their experiences of conversations about cancer. The participants reported a broad range of experiences, beyond just constraints versus openness. These findings have broad implications for both theory and practice. For instance, in the final chapter, I discuss ways in which these results motivate further research on intersections between the Social Identity Approach and cancer-related post-traumatic stress. I also discuss implications for interventions going beyond traditional trauma exposure techniques."],"dc:identifier":["oai:discovery.dundee.ac.uk:studenttheses/10d5554d-8987-436b-9558-4e6be5f844f2","https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/10d5554d-8987-436b-9558-4e6be5f844f2"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/files/28543705/Thesis_with_corrections_FINAL_pdf.pdf"],"dc:language":["eng"],"dc:publisher.department":["Psychology"],"dc:publisher.institution":["University of Dundee"],"dc:relation.isreferencedby":["https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/10d5554d-8987-436b-9558-4e6be5f844f2"],"dc:rights.embargodate":["2019-11-30"],"dc:rights.embargoreason":["/dk/atira/pure/core/document/studentthesisembargoreason/commercialexploitation"],"dc:title":["Psychosocial determinants of post-traumatic stress among cancer survivors"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationlevel":["Doctoral Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationname":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:08:32Z"}