Effectiveness of Existential-Humanity based Therapy on Psychological Well-Being and Post-‌Traumatic Growth in Women with Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among Iranian women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of existential-humanity based therapy on psychological well-being and post-traumatic growth in women with breast cancer.

This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test and follow-up design with a control group. The population of this study insisted all the patients with breast cancer that referred to Khorramabad Shahid Rahimi Hospital in 2020. 30 patients selected randomly and assigned in two groups (15 experimental and 15 evidence), and it was asked them to answer to the Reef psychological well-being scale and post-traumatic growth questionnaire by Tedachi et al. Afterwards, the experimental group was intervened in 8 sessions of 90 minutes. After the intervention, post-test was taken from both groups and both groups were followed up again after two months. The data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and SPSS version 16 software.

The results of analysis of repeated measures ANOVA showed that the interaction between group and time was significant. Therefore, psychological well-being variable increased significantly(F=77.98, P<0/01) and post- trauma growth variable increased significantly (F=27.46, P<0/01).

According to the results of the study, existential-humanity based therapy has a significant effect on psychological well-being and post- traumatic growth in breast cancer patients. It would be beneficial to offer, along with medication, psychological treatments, including existential-humanity based therapy to these patients should be considered.