Characteristics and influencing factors of posttraumatic growth in young and middle-aged cancer patients: A cross-sectional latent profile analysis

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the subgroups of posttraumatic growth (PTG) among young and middle-aged cancer patients in China and to explore influencing factors. A total of 378 young and middle-aged cancer patients aged 18–60 were selected for the study at a hospital in Shanghai, China. Latent profile analysis identified four categories of PTG among young and middle-aged cancer patients: the “predicament group” (5.9%), the “struggle group” (36.8%), the “limited growth group” (44.1%) and the “remarkable growth group” (13.2%). Age, gender, time since diagnosis, cancer site, primary/recurrence, and meaning in life significantly influenced the distribution of PTG in young and middle-aged cancer patients. Targeted interventions should be developed to enhance the level of PTG among this population, considering the specific characteristics and influencing factors within each profile.