Abstract
The present dissertation aimed to explore the functions of resilience in positive adaptation in cancer survivors by 1) evaluating the mediating and moderating roles of resilience in a psychosocial intervention for cancer survivors, 2) assessing the association between resilience and different coping profiles in survivors, and 3) exploring the interpersonal or dyadic functions of resilience following a cancer diagnosis. In a sample of breast cancer survivors (N=240), the first sub-study showed that CBSM was associated with increases in benefit finding, which mediated increases in emotional quality of life. Moderated mediation models revealed that those mediation effects occurred only among participants with low to moderate optimism at baseline. Using the same sample of breast cancer survivors, the second sub-study used latent profile analysis to identify five profiles based on combinations of intrapersonal and social coping strategies: 1) Low Coping, 2) Moderate Coping, 3) Low Intrapersonal and High Social Coping, 4) High Coping, and 5) Moderate Intrapersonal and Inconsistent Social Coping. Levels of benefit finding, coping self-efficacy, and locus of control were associated with specific coping patterns in breast cancer survivors. Through actor-partner interdependence models (APIM), the third study (n=98 dyads) showed that spirituality was significantly associated with mental quality of life and inflammation in both patients and caregivers. In terms of cross-over effects, we identified optimism in survivors as a determinant of physical quality of life in caregivers. Benefit finding in patients was also significantly associated with mental and physical quality of life in caregivers. Collectively, findings from this dissertation show that the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for cancer survivors can be maximized by assessing resilience levels early into survivorship to identify the most effective intervention strategies (individual or interpersonal) for survivors, based on coping patterns.