Roles of Perceived Life Satisfaction and Perceived Social Support in Association between Resilience and Experiencing Posttraumatic Growth in Cancer Patients

Background: Our study compared life satisfaction, perceived social support, resilience, and growth on cancer patients, individuals having chronic nonmalignant illness, and healthy controls which was not under major consideration in the existing literature. Objectives: Examining the roles of life satisfaction and social support in the association between personal acceptance and growth in cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Among 429 purposively sampled participants, 149 had diagnosis of cancer, 168 with chronic health conditions, and 112 were healthy controls. Results: Healthy individuals showed greater resilience, whereas cancer patients reported the greatest appreciation of life. In cancer patients, personal acceptance enhanced perception of new possibility with increased life satisfaction, but there was a negative association while mediated by perceived social support. Implications and Conclusion: Self-acceptance fosters growth although reduces satisfaction; whereas social support enhances it. Cancer care should integrate intervention modules on internal resilience and acknowledgment of external support system.