Malignant disease experience as a source of positive changes in personality

Introduction: Cancer illness is a very difficult situation, being a threat for health and life of a person and disrupting hers normal way of living. In such a condition words of rage, despair and dread about the future – never certain since diagnosis – should be expected. But meetings with people who have experienced cancer illness frequently reveal quite different attitude. The experience becomes a source of positive changes of personality (posttraumatic growth). In Poland there was not conducted any research on positive changes of personality for young adults, who had experienced cancer illness in childhood. Authors in the area were interested mainly in negative personality changes.

Aim: Assessment of personality changes for young adults who had cancer illness in childhood.

Material and methods: The group of people under research consisted of 12 individuals who had cancer illness in childhood, and now as young adults are in good health. The research was conducted with a Disease-Related Appraisals Scale

(S. Steuden, K. Janowski) and The Biographic Map (A. Misztal). Researchees made cognitive appraisal of the illness and created biographical map for two periods: during the illness and after recuperation.

Results: In comparison with the malady period, after recuperation the researchees more often recognised the illness as an asset, rather than a threat, barrier, loss and harm. A personality change from “victim” to a person who have managed to persist was also observed, as well as more mature social relationships, value system changes, increase of empathy and spiritual growth.

Conclusions: The research has proved that the cancer illness childhood experience may be a source of positive personality changes.