Graduation Semester and Year

2013

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Angela Liegey-Dougall

Abstract

The present study examined the impact of recurrence on health-related and prostate-specific quality of life, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, physiological arousal to stress, and psychological distress by comparing disease-free survivors (N = 46) to survivors who experienced recurrence (N = 18), and healthy controls (N = 18). Participants completed paper and pencil questionnaires and submitted blood samples. Groups did not report differences in health-related quality of life, sexual and urinary function, problems with urinary function, perceived stress, psychological distress, epinephrine levels and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Survivors who experienced recurrence reported less bowel function than disease-free survivors. However, survivors who experienced recurrence reported fewer problems with bowel function than disease-free survivors. Survivors who experienced recurrence reported more problems with sexual function than disease-free survivors. Additionally, disease-free survivors reported fewer problems than healthy controls. Finally, norepinephrine levels were higher for disease-free survivors than for survivors who experienced recurrence. The current study furthered existing research examining the psychological impact of recurrence. Future directions should focus on potential differences in coping styles among the three groups and examine the effect of post-traumatic growth in survivors of prostate cancer.

Disciplines

Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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