Comparing the Effectiveness of Positive Thinking Training and Meaning and Purpose (MaP) Therapy in promoting Post-Traumatic Grouth and Psycho-Social Adjustment in Cancer Patients

Soureh, Jamal; Valipour, Yousef; Hajloo, Nader

doi:10.22034/jrc.2026.145585.1038

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Clinical Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Khalkhal Branch, Ardabil, Iran.

² Department of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.

³ Department of Psychology, Department of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22034/jrc.2026.145585.1038

Abstract

Background and Objective: Cancer is one of the diseases that requires complex and multidisciplinary treatment; therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of positive thinking training and Meaning and Purpose (MaP) Therapy in promoting post-traumatic growth and psychosocial adjustment in patients with breast cancer.
Method: The current research is a semi-experimental type with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of this research included all breast cancer patients in the Bukan Cancer Patients' Association, 45 people were selected and randomly replaced in three groups: positive thinking training, treatment based on meaning and goal, and the control group. In this research, Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale–Self Report (PAIS-SR) Derogatis (1986) and post-traumatic growth questionnaire by Tedeschi & Calhoun (1996) were used. The experimental groups underwent positive thinking training and treatment based on meaning and goal for 8 weeks and one 45-minute session each week. To analyze the data, the statistical method of multivariate covariance analysis was used using SPSS-27 software.
Findings: The results of the present study showed that treatment based on meaning and purpose was more effective than positive thinking training in the post-traumatic growth variable (p<0.001). Also, the results showed that there is no significant difference between the two groups in the variable of psychosocial adjustment (p>0.01).
Conclusion: Therefore, to help breast cancer patients, psychological treatments can have positive effects so that by overcoming the existential crisis, they get out of their negative habits and thought patterns and live consciously and meaningfully and discover the hidden meaning in the heart of the suffering caused by cancer.

Keywords

20.1001.1.31160344.1405.2.5.1.0

Main Subjects

Psychological rehabilitation

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Comparing the Effectiveness of Positive Thinking Training and Meaning and Purpose (MaP) Therapy in promoting Post-Traumatic Grouth and Psycho-Social Adjustment in Cancer Patients

References

References

Volume 2, Issue 1 - Serial Number 5July 2026Pages 318-329

Volume 2, Issue 1 - Serial Number 5
July 2026
Pages 318-329