Abstract

Objective: Young adults with cancer are at a heightened risk for experiencing identity distress, with adverse consequence on their satisfaction with life (SwL). This study examines the contributions of two resources thought to mitigate identity distress: parental warmth and narrative creativity.

Methods: 164 young adults divided into three groups: (a) control group (no history of life-threatening medical illness); (b) recovered group, and (c) cancer group (currently in treatment) completed measures of SwL, identity distress, parental warmth, and narrative creativity.

Findings: The cancer group was associated with higher identity distress and there was a strong contribution of identity distress in decreased SwL across groups. Narrative creativity had a significant, direct effect on reduced identity distress, indirectly increasing SwL across groups.

Implications for psychosocial providers: These findings highlight the potential of creativity to decrease identity distress and in turn, improve SwL among patients with cancer.

摘要

目的：患有癌症的年轻人面临身份困扰的风险增加，对他们的生活满意度（SwL）产生不利影响。本研究考察了被认为可以减轻身份困扰的两种资源的贡献：父母的温暖和叙事创造力。

方法： 164 名年轻人分为三组：（a）对照组（无危及生命的疾病史）；(b)康复组和 (c)癌症组（目前正在治疗）完成了 SwL、身份痛苦、父母温暖和叙事创造力的测量。

结果：癌症组与较高的身份困扰相关，并且身份困扰对各组 SwL 降低有很大贡献。叙事创造力对减少身份困扰有显着的直接影响，间接增加了跨群体的 SwL。

对社会心理提供者的影响：这些发现强调了创造力在减少身份困扰方面的潜力，进而改善癌症患者的 SwL。