Abstract
Objective: This study investigates post-traumatic growth from bereavement and its relations to stress coping and social support, among survivors of deceased cancer patients who had been admitted to the palliative care unit.
Methods: A self-administered questionnaire assessing individual factors, post-traumatic growth, stress coping patterns, and social support was mailed to 550 surviving relatives of former palliative care unit patients after 6 years, 6 months of bereavement time.
Results: Among 218 respondents, the average post-traumatic growth score was moderate, which is higher than that for car accident survivors and Great East Japan Earthquake victims. This might be because death can be predicted as a result of receiving family care and fulfillment of palliative care ward treatment, which might affect the bereavement process. Multiple regression analysis indicated that active coping and emotional support accounted for 48.6% of the variance in post-traumatic growth scores.
Conclusion: Survivor assistance among the bereaved family and the ability to convey related emotions are required to be able to face life after bereavement. Survivors should take a proactive coping approach and receive significant emotional support.
