A latent profile analysis of post-traumatic growth in spouses of breast cancer patients

Introduction Post-traumatic growth is the positive psychological changes that an individual may undergo after coping with traumatic events. It can help individuals alleviate negative emotions, reduce physical and mental stress, and enhance self-efficacy. This study aims to characterize the latent profiles of spouses’ post-traumatic growth and to explore the related factors for each subgroup based on the ABC-X model. Methods 210 breast cancer couples participated in the survey through convenience sampling and completed the General Information Questionnaire, Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, Dyadic Coping Inventory, and Resilience Scales. Results Latent profile analysis revealed three distinct post-traumatic growth profiles among breast cancer patients’ spouses: low growth-emerging edge group (30.9%), medium growth-moderate progress group (48.7%), and high growth-transcending self group (20.3%). Multivariate logistic regression showed that factors influencing post-traumatic growth in spouses with breast cancer include type of place of residence, resilience, negative coping styles, the number of chemotherapy treatments for the patient, and cancer stage. Conclusion There is significant heterogeneity in post-traumatic growth among spouses. Future research could utilize precise psychological interventions to improve post-traumatic growth based on the diverse psychological profiles of spouses, thereby enhancing the mental health of the spousal population.