Comparing unidimensional and multidimensional models of benefit finding in breast and prostate cancer

Psychosocial research with cancer patients has increasingly recognized that a large proportion report at least some positive changes or aspects of personal growth that occur because of their illness--a construct referred to as benefit finding. Although theory suggests that there may be several domains to benefit finding, measurement instruments such as the Benefit Finding Scale (BFS) are typically considered to be unidimensional.

This study compared single and multiple factor models of the BFS using group confirmatory factor analysis in men with prostate cancer (n = 185) and women with breast cancer (n = 115) who were less than 2 years postdiagnosis.

In both samples, the multiple-factor model fit the data significantly better than the single-factor model, and factor loadings were equivalent between groups. Men with prostate cancer reported greater Personal Growth benefit finding and women with breast cancer reported greater Social Relationships benefit finding. Differential relationships were observed between BFS factors and sociodemographic and disease-related variables.

Results suggest an alternate multidimensional framework for the BFS that may be generalizable across cancer populations. Future research should examine if BFS domains are differentially related to quality-of-life outcomes in both cancer and other medical patients.