The effects and mechanism of mindfulness intervention on posttraumatic growth in breast cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial

Xiaokang Lyu; Tingting Yang; Ying Han; Xiaolan He; Zhengyang Xu

doi:10.54844/wsr.2024.0572

Authors

Xiaokang Lyu Department of Social Psychology, Nankai University, Tianjin
Tingting Yang Department of Social Psychology, Nankai University, Tianjin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7589-3208
Ying Han
Xiaolan He
Zhengyang Xu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54844/wsr.2024.0572

Keywords:

mindfulness, posttraumatic growth, breast cancer, fear of cancer recurrence

Abstract

While the benefits of mindfulness training in enhancing posttraumatic growth (PTG) are well-documented, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This randomized controlled trial explored whether reduced fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) mediates the effect of mindfulness on PTG in breast cancer patients. Ninety participants from a cancer center in southeast China were randomly assigned to either an eight-week mindfulness training group (n = 46) or a routine care control group (n = 44). Assessments of PTG, FCR, and psychosocial adaptation (PSA) were conducted before and after the intervention. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant group-by-time interactions for PTG and FCR. Further, mediation analysis showed that reductions in FCR mediated the positive effect of mindfulness training on PTG. These findings suggest that FCR may be a key mechanism through which mindfulness promotes PTG, highlighting the value of targeting FCR in psychosocial interventions for breast cancer patients.

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