Objective: To investigate the illness perception of cancer patients as well as the difference of illness perception between cancer patients and diabetics so as to help them to derive meaning from illness experiences and facilitate posttraumatic growth.
Methods: A sample of 210 Chinese cancer patients and 71 diabetics was recruited from the same hospital and CIPQ-R completed.
Results: Cancer patients had higher consequences [F (1, 275) = 23.32, P < 0.001(2) = 0.08] and emotional representation [F (1, 275) = 25.95, P < 0.001(2) = 0.09]; as well as less perceived controls over illness as compared with diabetics. Among the cancer patients, those with a better understanding about the meaning of illness tended to report more positive changes.
Conclusion: Illness perception is one of the important cognitive components affecting posttraumatic growth of cancer patients. Helping patients to derive meaning from their illness experiences facilitates the posttraumatic growth after cancer diagnosis.