The rising incidence of cancer has led to an increased number of adult children impacted by parental cancer. Previous research primarily focused on younger individuals, leaving a gap in understanding the experiences of adult children aged 20–35.

To examine a model that integrates the interrelationships among the disease’s characteristics (i.e., disease stage), illness representations, coping strategies, and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in young adults with parents diagnosed with cancer. In addition, we examined indirect relationships involving illness representations as independent variables, coping strategies as mediators, and PTG as the outcome variable.

The rising incidence of cancer has led to an increased number of adult children impacted by parental cancer. Previous research primarily focused on younger individuals, leaving a gap in understanding the experiences of adult children aged 20–35. This study examines a model that integrates the interrelationships among the disease’s characteristics (i.e., disease stage), illness representations, coping strategies, and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in young adults with parents diagnosed with cancer. In addition, we examined indirect relationships involving illness representations as independent variables, coping strategies as mediators, and PTG as the outcome variable.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 109 adult children (ages 20–35) of cancer patients. Data were collected using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and the COPE questionnaire. Path analysis was performed to test the study’s hypotheses.

The findings revealed that illness representations and coping strategies accounted for significant variance in PTG. Higher perceived severity of the parent’s illness was associated with greater use of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies, which were linked to higher PTG. Lower perceived control over the illness was associated with less use of problem-focused coping and subsequently lower PTG.

This study underscores the importance of subjective perceptions and coping strategies in fostering PTG among young adults with parents diagnosed with cancer. The findings highlight the need for tailored psychosocial interventions to enhance adaptive illness representations and effective coping strategies, promoting resilience and growth in this unique demographic.

This study examined the differences and the predictive role of clinical variables, illness representations, anxiety, and depression symptoms, on self-reported foot care adherence, in patients recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and assessed no longer than a year after the diagnosis (T1) and four months later (T2).

The high rate of diabetes worldwide is one of the major public health challenges. Foot care is the behavior least performed by patients although regular foot care could prevent complications such as diabetic foot and amputation. Psychosocial processes such as illness representations and distress symptoms may contribute to explain adherence to foot self-care behaviors.

This is a longitudinal study with two assessment moments. The sample included 271 patients, who answered the Revised Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, Brief-Illness Perception Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Patients reported better foot care adherence at T2. Having a higher duration of T2DM and the perception of more consequences of diabetes were associated with better self-reported foot care adherence, at T1. At T2, the predictors were lower levels of HbA1c, better self-reported foot care adherence at T1, higher comprehension about T2DM, as well as fewer depressive symptoms. Interventions to promote adherence to foot care should have in consideration these variables. The results of the present study may help health professionals in designing interventions that early detect depressive symptoms and address illness beliefs, in order to promote foot self-care behaviors reducing the incidence of future complications.

There is evidence that patients with schizophrenia benefit from standard cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) only if active techniques are used (‘full therapy’). By contrast, attending sessions but not proceeding beyond engagement and assessment strategies (‘partial therapy’), or simply not attending sessions (‘no therapy’), is not associated with better outcomes. The factors leading to full therapy are unknown. We hypothesized that patients' initial ideas about the nature and extent of their problems would predict use of CBT. A match between patients' views of their problems and the principles underlying treatment would lead to better outcomes.

Ninety-two patients with a recent relapse of psychosis completed the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) before receiving CBT. We examined whether their illness perceptions predicted the take-up of therapy.

Patients who did not attend sessions believed their problems would not last as long as those who attended them. Those who attended sessions but did not proceed to full therapy had a lower sense of control over their problems and a more biological view of their causes. Patients who took up full therapy were more likely to attribute the cause of their problems to their personality and state of mind. The take-up of therapy was predicted neither by levels of psychiatric symptoms nor by insight.

People with psychosis who have psychologically orientated views of their problems, including the potential to gain control over them, may be more likely to engage fully and do well with standard CBT for psychosis, irrespective of the severity of their problems.