The link between value motives and distress amongst people diagnosed with cancer.
Ciarrochi, J., Fisher, D. and Lane, L. (2011). The link between value motives, value success, and well-being among people diagnosed with cancer. Psycho-Oncology. doi: 10.1002/pon.1832
Objective: This study investigated the relationship between cancer patient’s values and cancer related distress.
Method: A total of 107 patients with cancer diagnoses completed an anonymous questionnaire. Results: Less self-regulating motivation for health values was significantly related to poorer well-being. Greater success at living one’s values was significantly related to improved wellbeing and distress-related outcomes. Sex difference analysis suggested that success at friendship values was linked to less cancer-related distress among women, but not men, whereas success at romantic relationship values was linked to less distress among men, but not women.
Conclusion: The results have important implications for values focused interventions, highlighting the importance of facilitating success at valued living and attending to sex differences among cancer patients.